Jekaterina Stuģe has stepped down from the helm at Amber Beverage Group, bringing an end to her ten years with the brand owner.
Stuģe, who started with Amber in April 2014 as CFO and became CEO seven years later, announced the move on LinkedIn earlier today. A separate statement from the company described the decision as having been reached by “mutual agreement”.
Chief legal officer Arturs Evarts, who has been a member of the board since mid 2015, has been appointed CEO on an interim basis “until a permanent appointment is made”.
“Jekaterina Stuģe’s departure from the company is a result of mutual agreement, reflecting collaborative discussions between Mrs Stuģe and the company’s ownership, aligning on the best path forward for both parties,” the Moskovskaya vodka and Kah tequila owner said.
“Jekaterina played an important role across every area of the group’s key activities and operations, and after a decade with the business, she leaves the company in a strong position to continue building on its success over the long term.”
Amber is busying itself in Ireland at the moment, having announced in October a EUR35m [then-US$37m] investment in a distillery for it Walsh Whiskey business. Construction is expected to kick off this year, with operations set to commence in 2026.
The company is related to Stoli Group in that it is also owned by ‘oligarch’ Yuri Shefler. Stoli Group switched CEOs last year, when Chris Caldwell moved up internally to replace Damian McKinney.
