People Moves: Brew Dr. Names Marty Wall as President

Brew Dr. Appoints Marty Wall as First President

Brew Dr. Kombucha has appointed EVP of Business Development Marty Wall as the company’s first President, the company told BevNET on Wednesday.

In response to questions sent by BevNET via e-mail, company founder and CEO Matt Thomas said Wall was initially hired in 2016 to build out the Portland, Ore.-based company’s national sales organization and to create communication channels throughout the company. But as he settled into his position, Wall began taking on more business development and operations responsibilities.

“Marty was essentially serving in a presidential role,” Thomas said. “Having been successful at all objectives he was originally tasked with and seeing the role he stepped in to, it was time to solidify with the proper title.”

Prior to joining Brew Dr, Wall spent three years as the VP of Sales for Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Before that, he spent nearly nine years as the VP of Sales for Craft Brew Alliance.

Wall said via email that his key responsibilities in the new position will be to continue building the internal structure required to maintain growth, to manage day-to-day operations, and to assist in “execution of brand vision,” which will allow Thomas to focus on long-term planning, product development and innovation.

“I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work with Matt and the teams in all three of our companies,” Wall said. “Everyday I get to work with innovative individuals that will change the way consumers think of tea. Working in the ‘better for you’ beverage space with Brew Dr. Kombucha inspires me in my own life to live the values of health, happiness and sustainability.”

According to Wall, the company has been working to develop its team while also “investing in key hires in the operations, sales, and marketing arenas.”

In his role as president, Wall will be involved in all three brands of parent company Townshend’s Tea, which includes Brew Dr., Townshend’s Tea and Townshend’s Distillery. He added that he is particularly passionate about the latter business, which produces spirits made from an alcohol distillate that is extracted from the fermented tea during the production of Brew Dr. Kombucha.

Wall’s appointment comes during a high growth period for Brew Dr. Last year, Thomas told BevNET the company anticipates reaching $50 million in revenue by 2019.

John Fieldly Named Permanent CEO of Celsius

Just over a year after being named interim CEO, the board of directors of fitness drink maker Celsius Holdings, Inc. has named John Fieldly as the company’s new permanent CEO and interim CFO. Fieldly had previously served as CFO for Celsius since 2012.

Fieldly assumed the interim CEO position last year after the sudden retirement of Gerry David.

Under Fieldly’s leadership in 2017, Celsius reported record sales of $36.2 million — a 60 percent increase over the previous year — and expanded distribution in three continents. Europe and Asia are becoming areas of increased focus for the Florida-based company, while Celsius has also established several overseas production facilities and supply chains. and distribution has expanded into Norway and Finland. Meanwhile sales in China have grown heavily, according to the company.

“This is a new day for Celsius,” Fieldly told BevNET over the phone on Tuesday. “We’re looking at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.”

While its international business will continue to grow, Fieldly said, in the U.S. the company has turned its eye toward the drug channel. Celsius recently launched in 550 CVS stores nationwide, with potential to add new doors at the next reset, he said. Celsius has also seen interest from other retailers in the channel.

“We’re seeing amazing traction in CVS,” Fieldly said. “Overall, our employees have never been more excited.”