New Belgium Brewing announces new CEO

New Belgium Brewing's chief marketing officer will take over as its CEO, the brewery announced Wednesday afternoon.

Shaun Belongie, who's worked as the brewery's chief marketing officer for the past five years, will take the brewing company's helm three months after former New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer left "to explore new challenges." Belongie will step into the role immediately, with New Belgium Brewing announcing plans to fill its now-vacant chief marketing officer post "in the near future," according to a news release.

Before starting at New Belgium Brewing, Belongie worked in a variety of sales, finance and marketing roles at Kraft Foods and Nestle Purina, according to the brewery. While at Nestle Purina, he signed internet celebrity Grumpy Cat to her first endorsement deal, per Adweek.

Interim CEO Danielle McLarnon will return to her role as chief financial officer.

Other brewery news: Loveland brewery to purchase Black Bottle building, take over space for second location

Belongie will step into the CEO role following a stretch of significant changes for the Fort Collins brewer — most notably including its 2019 sale to Kirin subsidiary Lion, its 2021 acquisition of Bell's Brewery and the reimagination of its flagship Fat Tire beer earlier this year.

“New Belgium's deep commitment to its people and the planet requires a believer, and Shaun is absolutely that," New Belgium co-founder Kim Jordan said in Wednesday's news release. "I have a lot of faith in how he'll continue to honor what makes New Belgium so remarkable, while integrating new, innovative practices that steward the future.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins brewery New Belgium Brewing announces new CEO