Suja Life, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company and a functional wellness platform and parent company of Suja Organic and Vive Organic, announced the appointment of Maria Stipp as its new CEO, effective February 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. Prior to joining Suja Life, Stipp served as CEO of Sapporo-Stone Brewing Company 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 Company, and she currently sits on the board of Siete Family Foods and California Olive Ranch.
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. In 2022, he oversaw its acquisition of Vive Organic to build a unified portfolio and create the next generation of wellness offerings. While Bob 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.
As the leading functional wellness platform, Suja Life’s vibrant portfolio includes Suja Organic, the nation's #1 organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed juice and beverage brand, and Vive Organic, the pioneer in cold-pressed and plant-powered 2oz ready-to-drink wellness shots. 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.
