The New York-based Vita Coco Company has announced new titles for the company’s co-CEOs Mike Kirban and Martin Roper.
Kirban will assume the title of executive chairman of The Vita Coco Co. He will continue his daily work overseeing the company’s strategic growth and development. Roper will continue as CEO and his current role managing the company’s day-to-day operations.
“The lawyers wouldn’t allow us to pick Thunder and Lightning, so we settled on CEO for Martin and executive chairman for me,” Kirban said. “This announcement formalizes a division of labor that’s already been happening during Martin’s and my three-year partnership, most recently as co-CEOs.
“The clarity in titles and roles will allow me to tend to the parts of the business that I love and where I currently make the biggest contributions: creating strategic growth opportunities, expanding our relationships with suppliers and retailers, growing our social impact work and driving our entrepreneurial culture. Meanwhile, our company will get to fully capitalize on Martin’s decades of leadership experience in the beverage industry.”
Prior to joining Vita Coco in 2019, Roper spent 24 years at The Boston Beer Company. For 17 of those years, he was the president and CEO, working in tandem with founder Jim Koch. Together, they quadrupled the company’s revenue, introduced several category-leading brand platforms and expanded international partnerships, acquisitions and facilities.
“I thrive when I’m able to partner with a visionary leader who is deeply involved in the business, because it means I can focus on execution and team building, which is what I enjoy most,” Roper said. “I have found a great partner in Mike. Over the last three years, we have worked seamlessly together to grow The Vita Coco Company and take it public while becoming a Public Benefit Corporation and receiving B Corp certification. Other than having to buy some new business cards, the changes announced today will mean very little when it comes to how Mike and I run The Vita Coco Company.”
The remainder of The Vita Coco Co.’s senior team will remain in their respective roles.
The Vita Coco Co. was co-founded in 2004. The company’s brands include the coconut water, Vita Coco; clean energy drink Runa; sustainable enhanced water, Ever & Ever; and protein-infused water, PWR LIFT.
For more information, visit vitacoco.com.
