Schlafly Names Longtime Brewer James Ottolini as Chief Executive

The Saint Louis Brewery appointed James Ottolini to the role of chief executive on December 23, completing a planned transition from interim leadership to a permanent CEO. The move was presented as a continuity decision intended to preserve Schlafly Beer operations that emphasize beer quality and community engagement.

Ottolini has worked in the brewing industry since the early 1990s and holds an Executive MBA. Those credentials and decades of experience inside the company informed the selection and shaped the message from leadership that the brewery wanted steady hands at the helm. David Schlafly, who had been serving as interim chief executive, will remain active as chairman, providing ongoing oversight while the new CEO settles into the role.

Company leaders praised Ottolini for his deep institutional knowledge and for earning the respect of staff across brewing, taproom, and distribution functions. The appointment is designed to reassure employees and trade partners that day to day operations, brewing standards, and local partnerships will remain priorities even as leadership moves from an interim stage to a permanent arrangement.

Ottolini outlined priorities centered on serving customers, supporting on and off premise partners, and maintaining the brewery's craft and community mission. That focus matters to neighborhood taprooms, wholesale accounts, festival organizers, and the regional beer scene because it signals both stability and a commitment to existing relationships.

For customers that means the beers they expect should remain consistent, and for bars and restaurants it signals ongoing support from a leadership team familiar with local market needs. For staff the leadership change underscores an emphasis on continuity in brewing practices, quality control, and community outreach programs that many regional breweries use to sustain local engagement.

The transition closes a brief interim chapter while laying out a path for operational continuity. With Ottolini in place and Schlafly remaining involved as chairman, the brewery enters 2026 with leadership positioned to reinforce its craft foundations and community ties.