Suja Life, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company and the parent company of Suja Organic and Vive Organic, announced the appointment of Maria Stipp as its new CEO, effective Feb. 20. Stipp succeeds Bob DeBorde who will retire and remain an active member as Chair of the Board of Directors.

With an impressive leadership track record and a deep understanding of the food and beverage market, Stipp is poised to drive Suja Life to transformative new heights as the company continues to build its strong portfolio of consumer brands, the company says. Prior to joining Suja Life, Stipp served as CEO of Sapporo-Stone Brewing Co. where she initially oversaw the Stone Brewing business, doubled its size and successfully led the company through its sale to Japanese beer maker Sapporo. Previously, Stipp was the CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Co., and she currently sits on the board of Siete Family Foods and California Olive Ranch.

“I am thrilled to lead Suja Life’s next phase of growth and work closely with the team and Paine Schwartz Partners to deliver meaningful value,” Stipp stated. “Throughout my tenure in the beverage industry, I have seen a dramatic shift in consumer trends toward better-for-you alternatives. Suja Life is well-suited to capitalize on this trend, and I look forward to further developing our exciting initiatives to achieve this.”

Outgoing CEO DeBorde joined Suja Organic as CEO in 2019 and drove Suja Life through market-leading growth and profitability while strengthening Suja’s platform position in the healthy beverage segment, the company says. In 2022, he oversaw its acquisition of Vive Organic to build a unified portfolio and create the next generation of wellness offerings. Although DeBorde will no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations, he will remain active in supporting the company’s strategic growth in his new role as Chairman of the Board. Outgoing Chairman Randy Papadellis will remain on the Board as Vice Chairman.

“It has been a true honor to have worked with the talented team at Suja Life,” DeBorde stated. “Together we have built Suja Life into one of the leading healthy beverage platforms in the world. I am thrilled to pass the baton to Maria and am confident in her ability to lead the company in its next stage of expansion.”

Suja Life’s portfolio includes Suja Organic, an organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed juice and beverage brand; and Vive Organic, a cold-pressed and plant-powered 2-ounce ready-to-drink wellness shots brand. Each of Vive Organic’s products are designed to harness the power of fresh-pressed superfoods to improve overall health and carefully curated by a team of holistic wellness doctors.

“Since we initiated our partnership with Suja Life, its momentum has been nothing short of impressive. We are grateful for Bob’s contributions to the company’s development. As we set our sights on strategic and sustainable growth, Maria brings a level of innovation and expertise that will unlock new opportunities for Suja Life,” said Kevin Schwartz, CEO of Paine Schwartz Partners. “We have believed in Suja Life’s brand mission since the beginning, and we are excited to tap into Maria’s prior experience to unlock fresh audiences and continue our commitment to delivering functional, nutritious products.”