Controversial head brewer James Watt is stepping down from BrewDog's top job 17 years after co-founding the Scottish brewery.
Watt will hand the reins to chief operating officer James Arrow, but will remain with the group as a non-executive director on the board and will continue to advise the group on strategy.
Watt will take on the newly created non-executive role of “captain and co-founder” and will retain his 21% stake in the company.
The group said it had put succession plans in place after Watt first told the board last year that he wanted to step away to focus on his other projects and interests.
In a Linkedin post, Watt said: “After 17 fantastic years as CEO, I have decided to transition to a new role in the company, that of 'captain and co-founder', and James Arrow will take the reins as CEO at as our business moves into our next phase of growth.
“In my new role I will continue to be a member of the board of directors, a director and will also be a part-time strategic advisor to the company and our leadership team.”
BrewDog chairman Allan Leighton said: “James Watt, along with Martin Dickie, created this great business from a garage in Fraserburgh.
“Few have achieved what he has achieved.
“From very humble beginnings under his leadership, BrewDog has grown to become the world’s leading craft brewery, employing 2,530 people across its head office, four breweries and over 120 taprooms.
“I am especially pleased that he will continue to offer his knowledge, creative genius and energy to the board of directors.”
But Watt's tenure has been marred by controversy in recent years, with former employees accusing the company in an open letter in 2021 of having a “culture of fear” within the company, with “toxic attitudes” toward staff. junior.
Watt apologized to staff and has since insisted the group had made changes after the open letter was published.
And in January, the company also faced backlash after revealing it would no longer hire new staff at the “real” living wage, but would instead pay the lower legal minimum wage.
Announcing his departure from the top role, Watt said: “During my time leading BrewDog, there have been ups and downs, highs and lows, crazy successes and incredibly difficult challenges.
“When I look back on the last 17 years (119 dog years), my overwhelming feeling is gratitude.”
He said he was “grateful also for the difficult times, for the learning they provided, the determination they instilled and the perspective they offered.”
He said he plans to “take some time off, travel, spend more time with my family and friends.
“I also hope to spend more time on my other business interests.”
Arrow, who was hired as chief operating officer last September as part of succession planning for the top role, was previously CEO of Boots Opticians.
Prior to this, he spent a decade at Dixons Carphone, where he held senior roles across e-commerce, trading, operations, sales and transformation.
