Oregon craft brewing staple Deschutes Brewery has promoted Michael LaLonde from within to the position of president and CEO. LaLonde most recently served as COO and president of the company, and Deschutes founder and chairman (and former CEO) Gary Fish said this title transition shouldn’t be too difficult.
“In reality, Michael has been serving in a CEO capacity for some time now, as he handles many aspects of strategic planning and daily operations of the company,” Fish commented. “The title president and CEO more accurately describes Michael’s role, and his guidance will continue to help us fulfill our goals.”
LaLonde has held various senior management roles at Deschutes Brewery since 2005. Recently, he spearheaded the company’s expansion plans for building an East Coast facility in Roanoke, Va., and he is often credited with coining the unofficial slogan of the brewery — “damn tasty beer.” He has helped the company both define and stay true to its values and has placed an emphasis on a culture of transparency. He also has been instrumental in the company’s strategic planning and employee engagement processes.
With a background in C-level operations prior to joining the brewery, LaLonde also volunteers with many different area non-profits including serving as past chairman of the Bend Chamber of Commerce and sitting on the Sudara and Thunderstruck Lacrosse boards. LaLonde graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA in Finance and earned his MBA in International Management from Thunderbird Global School of Management.
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