Having built (and dominated) the U.S. RTD Yerba mate category since launching in 1995, Guayaki has enjoyed a strong market position from which to plot further moves that play to the company’s strength of weaving together advancement of its social mission with progress on its business goals. And now they’ll be doing so under new leadership.
Robyn Rutledge, a member of the company’s Board of Directors, was announced this morning as the company’s Interim CEO, as the “comprehensive search” for a new permanent chief executive kicks off following the exit of current boss Stefan Kozak, who had been in the role since 2021.
In a statement shared with BevNET, Guayaki praised Rutledge as a “highly successful investor and operator with more than two decades of experience in food, beverage, wellness and other segments of the consumer industry.” After starting her career at Goldman Sachs, Rutledge has since founded and run investment and advisory firm SBG Growth and served as a partner at PE house TSG Consumer Partners.
“With her deep understanding of our business as a board member since 2020, we are delighted to have Robyn guide the company,” said Guayaki co-founder and chairman Chris Mann. “Her leadership will play a pivotal role in building our brand, product innovation, and broadening our reach through expanded distribution.”
At the time of Kozak’s appointment, we noted that the ex-Red Bull CEO was “an experienced beverage industry veteran” with a track record of growth in the energy category. Today Mann thanked him on behalf of the Board for his “many positive contributions,” particularly in “building our team and critical infrastructure.”
Rutledge — and the eventual permanent CEO — will step into a healthy and growing business; dollar sales for Guayaki’s canned and bottled teas were outpacing the category at +6.7% ($148 million) through August 31, per Circana data covering MULO plus c-store. The brand’s reach continues to grow via DSD partnerships nationwide, the most recent coming with Polar Beverage New England.