HPA appoints Owen Johnston as new CEO

Australia | Hop Products Australia (HPA) has appointed Owen Johnston as their new CEO, following an extensive global process with the assistance of Derwent Search. The current Head of Sales & Marketing will commence his new position when current Managing Director & CEO Tim Lord retires at the end of April 2025.

Owen built Moo Brew, the largest craft brewery in Tasmania, Australia, where he worked as Head Brewer for 10 years before turning his focus to bringing Aussie flavour hops to brewers around the world. He has a BSc and MBA from the University of Tasmania and a Master of Science from the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland which form the foundation of his extensive understanding of the supply chain, from the hop farm to the brewery floor. Over the past 11 years at HPA, Owen has been instrumental in building a globally recognised brand that is valued by brewers around the world.

Owen will work closely with Tim over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, with a continued focus on our customers, providing stability, and positioning HPA to thrive in beer and beyond.