After the recent abrupt departure of CEO Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing, has hired ex Lagunitas Brewing CEO Maria Stipp to fill the position. Stipp will join Stone beginning September 14, 2020 as Stone co-founder and interim CEO Steve Wagner steps down into a more behind-the-scenes leadership role.
 

“Maria has all the qualities we were looking for in a CEO,” explained Steve Wagner, Stone Brewing co-founder & interim CEO. “She brings experience from a very well-respected brewery, and experience from outside the industry too. She lives up to our values and has long admired our revolutionary spirit. Most importantly, she’s someone co-founder Greg Koch and I are honored and excited to work with. And the latter is a must, because we’re sticking around!”

Stipp spent the past five years as CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company where she was hired by founder Tony Magee and later filled his leadership role. Previously, she was President of ecoATM, a company launched in Stone’s hometown of San Diego. Before ecoATM, Stipp was Executive Vice President at Activision, where she was responsible for Call of Duty and Guitar Hero, and further in the past, Miller Brewing Company and Kelloggs. 

Stipp will oversee Stone’s East and West Coast brewing production facilities, two Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens locations, seven Stone Brewing Tap Room locations and distribution to all 50 states and more than 40 countries. As CEO of Stone Brewing, she will lead Stone Distributing Co., which distributes more than 40 brands of craft and specialty beverages throughout eight counties of northern and southern California. She will also hold a seat on the Stone Brewing Board of Directors.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Maria to Team Stone,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing co-founder & Executive Chairman. “She has experience with companies both similar and quite different than our own. We’ll no doubt benefit from her strong leadership. In addition, she is clearly passionate about the beers, the ideals and the philosophies that Stone represents. I’m excited, knowing that we’re bringing a leader on who’s already clearly one of our own. We welcome her with great enthusiasm and promise.”