Canarchy brewery collective appoints new CEO

LONGMONT — Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective, a consortium of craft breweries, has named industry veteran Tony Short as the company’s new CEO.

Short boasts more than three decades of executive experience to the position, including serving as president of Major Eagle Inc., one of Florida’s largest beer distributors, and more than three decades in senior management roles with Anheuser-Busch.

Canarchy had operated without a CEO since May 2019, when chief executive David Pillsbury left after six months on the job. Canarchy at that time promoted chief operating officer Matt Fraser to president. Fraser was joined in June 2018 by Todd Whitbeck, who was named chief financial officer and head of business development. Whitbeck was formerly CFO of Water Pik Inc.

“Tony’s pedigree is a perfect complement to our CANarchy team, and we are very fortunate to have him as our CEO,” Fraser said in a prepared statement. “His wealth of experience and industry relationships will be instrumental in continuing to successfully implement the strategy we’ve put in place. Tony’s stewardship will allow us to accelerate CANarchy’s growth trajectory, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside him.”

Canarchy was founded in 2015 and is now the eighth-largest craft brewery in the nation. The consortium, partially funded by Fireman Capital Partners, includes such brands as Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing Co., Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Craft Beer, Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Co. and Three Weavers Brewing Co.

“Tony’s beer mojo is exactly what CANarchy needs for this next phase of growth,” said Dale Katechis, founder of Oskar Blues Brewery. “Tony joining our company is a testament that we might be doing something right around here — you don’t attract this kind of talent if you’re not.”

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