BREWDOG boss James Watt has announced he is stepping down after 17 years.
The beer tycoon will hand over to chief operating officer James Arrow as the "business pushes forward into the next phase of growth".
Despite leaving his CEO role, Watt will remain as a board member and director.
He will also be part time strategic adviser to the business.
Making the announcement on LinkedIn, Watt said: "After 17 fantastic years as chief executive, I have decided to transition into a new role in the business, one of 'captain and co-Founder' - and James Arrow will pick up the reins as chief executive as our business pushes forward into our next phase of growth.
Disgusted shoppers slam supermarket after spotting turkey two weeks out of date
"In my new role I will remain as a board member, a director and I will also be part time strategic adviser to the business and our to leadership team."
Watt set up the Aberdeenshire firm in 2007 alongside co-founder Martin Dickie.
But since its formation, BrewDog has been no stranger to controversy.
At the beginning of the year, the company faced an "incredibly tough week" following huge backlash over changes to staff wages in January.
Plans were announced to stop paying new employees the real living wage, according to a union.
Following huge backlash, Watt hit back on X saying that BrewDog is working hard to protect jobs and keep all of their bars open while "offering market leading packages to our brilliant people".
He added that the company "simply have to balance our books" and "ensure the long-term viability".
In February, Ofcom rejected BrewDog's complaint over a BBC documentary accusing Watt of inappropriate behaviour.
The beer giant lodged an official objection over the "deeply hurtful and damaging lies" contained in the Disclosure programme The Truth About BrewDog.
In the doc, claims are made by US-based ex-employees that his behaviour towards female members of staff was inappropriate.
Stormy gales wash walrus and seals ashore as urgent warnings for SNOW issued
Mr Watt previously submitted a complaint with telly regulator Ofcom.
He said the show had also infringed his right to privacy, but the watchdog has now dismissed the complaint.
More than a dozen former staff members spoke to the Disclosure team about the Scots booze boss.
And just last month Watt broke his silence on the “disaster” of the Lost Forest and revealed that of the half a million trees he planted last year at least 250,000 died.
He blamed extreme weather conditions and also hit out at those who criticised the project, which was handed almost £700,000 of public cash.
Watt started dating TV personality Georgia Toffolo last year and the pair have been spotted enjoying a number of luxury trips.
The BrewDog founder went on a blind date with 2017 I'm a Celeb winner Toff last summer.
It was supposedly the idea of a mutual friend who thought the pair would hit it off.
