Robert Hendrickson, interim CEO and president of Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), has died. The news was first made public today by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA).
According to RNDC, Hendrickson died Friday, October 17, though a cause of death was not released.
Board member Marc Sachs has been named interim CEO & president and former region president Jay Johnson will serve as a special advisor as the company moves forward.
“Bob believed success came from the people around him,” Sachs said in a statement. “He was not only a trusted leader but a dear friend whose warmth, generosity, and unwavering loyalty inspired everyone who knew him. Bob built teams grounded in accountability, loyalty, and collaboration – a culture that continues to define RNDC today. Undoubtedly, his legacy will be felt for generations to come.”
Hendrickson, who went by Bob, had been with RNDC since the company’s founding as Republic Beverage Company in 1997 and he was appointed as interim CEO and president earlier this year following the resignation of prior CEO Nick Mahall.
Hendrickson had been the distributor’s COO and EVP for more than a decade before taking the CEO role.
The company noted Hendrickson had been active in the search for a permanent CEO prior to his death.
Before RNDC, Hendrickson spent 10 years at Julius Schepps, ultimately in the role of VP of sales and marketing.
“All of us who had the privilege of knowing Bob will remember him not only as a titan of the industry, but also as a trusted colleague and friend,” said Cutter Smith, President of Eder Bros., Inc. and chairman of WSWA, in a separate statement. “His presence, leadership, and warmth will be deeply missed.”
“Bob was a kind, generous man and an exceptional leader. We extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt support to the Hendrickson family and his RNDC family during this difficult time,” added WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton.
According to an unofficial subreddit for current and former RNDC employees, staff were informed of Hendrickson’s death via email on Sunday.