Bruce Cakebread steps down as CEO

Bruce Cakebread is stepping down as CEO of his family’s Napa winery Cakebread Cellars it has been announced.

Cakebread (pictured), who will stay on as a member of the board of directors, will relinquish his duties to Mike Jaeger on 1 October this year.

In addition, his brother Dennis will hand over his responsibilities for sales and marketing to his team.

Jaeger was most recently CEO at C. Mondavi & Family and chairman of the Clos du Val winery as well as having worked for Constellation Brands and Trinchero Family Estates among others.

He commented: “The Cakebread Cellars success story is nearly five decades in the making, yet many great chapters are still waiting to be written,” said Jaeger. “I am truly honored and excited to work with the family and their dedicated employees to continue building on this success as we move forward.”

Bruce and Dennis, as well as remaining on the board to oversee the general operations of the winery, will now predominantly spend their time acting as ambassadors for the brand.

Bruce said: “As Cakebread Cellars transitions into a new chapter for the winery I look forward to my role as an owner and board member, a champion of our wines and an advocate for Napa Valley. It is our intention that this step will allow us to improve upon our success over the last 45 years and to carry on our tradition of crafting high-quality wines.”

Dennis added: “This transition process is one of the most crucial steps a family business can undertake. We have been planning this process for some time.

“The family, in consultation with the Board of Directors, chose Mike because of his deep and diverse experience in the wine industry and his broad background with the great companies he has worked with over the years. We are confident he will be a strong leader for our talented team at the winery.”