US spirits giant MGP Ingredients has kicked off 2025 with a new CEO as David Bratcher prepares for retirement.
The multi-category distiller, which claims to be one of the largest in the US, is to promote CFO Brandon Gall (below) on an interim basis. Gall, who has been with the company since 2012, will retain his current position while taking over temporarily from Bratcher, who became CEO at the end of 2023.
The move has been prompted by Bratcher’s intention to retire after having spent just over 23 years with brand owner Luxco, prior to its merger with MGP in 2021.
At the same time, Donn Lux, part of Luxco’s founding family, has become group chair, taking over from Karen Seaberg. According to MGP, Donn Lux will “guide the company during this challenging environment for the alcohol spirits industry” while also leading on the recruitment of a permanent CEO, “considering both internal and external candidates, to drive dynamic growth and elevate the performance of our branded spirits portfolio”.
“We are fortunate to have Brandon’s knowledge and experience during this transition period,” said Donn Lux. “As we look ahead, I am excited to work alongside our … board and executive team to drive MGP into the next phase of growth and emerge even stronger as a leading player in the branded spirits industry.”
According to research from IWSR in October, challenging prior-year comparisons for leading brands in the US have made it difficult for American whiskey to post growth in recent months.
