By Andy Young, TheShout
After six years with the Independent Brewers Association, Chris McNamara has left the association.
Most recently McNamara was the IBA’s Acting CEO and prior to that he was the long-time Executive Officer.
In a statement about his departure the IBA said that McNamara had driven the association’s advocacy efforts for tax reform and also led the transformation process of the Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA) to the IBA, which happened last year. The IBA also credited McNamara with lifting the association’s profile with all key stakeholders.
“I’m very proud of what we have been able to achieve at the IBA over the last six years, especially given our humble beginnings,” McNamara says. “In particular, our successful campaign for excise reform brought me great personal satisfaction.
“I’d like to thank everybody in the industry who has supported our efforts over the last six years especially all of the Board members who have been so generous with their time. I’d also like to thank my colleagues who do such an amazing jobs running the IBA’s events and managing its other initiatives.”
“Chris will always be part of the Industry fabric as the first staff member of the IBA,” adds IBA Chair Ben Kooyman. “On behalf of our many members and stakeholders we thank Chris for his years of loyal contribution.”