Ben & Jerry’s has announced the promotion of Dave Stever to the position of CEO, taking over from former CEO Matthew McCarthy, who recently retired after five years at the helm. Stever, who has been with the company for almost 35 years, including the last 12 as Chief Marketing Officer, is the first staff member to be promoted to the CEO position since co-founder Ben Cohen stepped down in 1994.
Stever’s appointment is significant news in the food packaging industry, representing a shift towards promoting internal personnel and retaining experienced, knowledgeable staff. As a seasoned member of the Ben & Jerry’s team, Stever has helped to create impactful partnerships with Tony’s Chocolonely, Netflix, Willie Nelson, Sir Elton John, Jimmy Fallon, Colin Kaepernick, and Chance the Rapper.
Ben & Jerry’s board chair, Anuradha Mittal, said, “The board is very pleased with the selection of Dave as Ben & Jerry’s next CEO, and not just because of his passion… Dave’s long history at Ben & Jerry’s, along with his recognition of the integral role that the company’s values and ‘Social Mission’ play in our growth and our commitment to advancing justice and equity in the world, make him the best choice to write the next chapter.”
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder, Ben Cohen, added, “Dave started out 30 years ago as a tour guide. And now he’s CEO. He knows Ben & Jerry’s inside and out. He lives it and breathes it. We are psyched to have someone with Dave’s talent, passion, and demonstrated ability as our CEO.”
Overall, Stever’s promotion demonstrates Ben & Jerry’s commitment to promoting staff retention, internal promotion, and maintaining its focus on social justice while continuing to provide its iconic ice cream to the masses.