Ben & Jerry's has appointed Dave Stever, a 34-year employee who got his start at the company as a tour guide more than decades ago, as its next CEO. He succeeds Matthew McCarthy, who recently retired after five years at the helm of the iconic ice cream brand, now owned by Unilever.
Stever's appointment marks the first time since co-founder Ben Cohen stepped down as CEO in 1994 that a staff member has been promoted from within to the CEO position.
"Ben and I have known Dave for over three decades, and we are absolutely thrilled that he will be leading Ben & Jerry's into the next chapter of our company's history," said co-founder Jerry Greenfield. "He knows Ben & Jerry's inside and out. He lives it and breathes it."
Not long after being hired in 1988, Stever established himself in marketing and management, eventually reaching the post of chief marketing officer. One of his strengths has been working cross functionally to create impactful partnerships with the likes of Stephen Colbert, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Jimmy Fallon and Ava DuVernay, to name a few.
While leading the company to remain as part of the cultural zeitgeist, Stever never lost focus on the critical differentiator for Ben & Jerry's: its mission.
"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 in Ben & Jerry's remarkable story," said board chair Anuradha Mittal.