Simon Thorpe

Leaves Duvel

He Played Key Role Locally

As President Of Ommegang

COOPERSTOWN – Duvel Moortgat USA today announced that Simon Thorpe, its president and former president of Brewery Ommegang, plans to leave the company at the end of August.

He will be succeeded by Jeff Krum, who joined Duvel when it acquired Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City, where Krum had been CFO.

“We are grateful for Simon’s strong leadership, and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” said Michel Moortgat, CEO of Belgium-based Duvel Moortgat NV.

Duvel appointed Thorpe Ommegang president in 2009, and he positioned the local brewery as a key player in the movement to ban fracking around Otsego Lake.  He served on the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce board and became was active in local affairs during his tenure here.

When Duvel, Ommegang’s parent, acquired Boulevard in Kansas City, in 2014, Thorpe was brought there to help with the transition, and soon was promoted to Duvel Moortgat USA president.

Krum joined Boulevard in 1994 and was CFO for 20 years before transitioning to vice president of corporate affairs for the combined companies in 2014. Krum is a co-founder of Ripple Glass, formed in 2009 to provide a regional solution to glass recycling.

He serves on the board of directors of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, the Downtown Transportation Development District and the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation. About Duvel Moortgat Duvel Moortgat is a fourth generation, family-owned craft brewer based in Puurs, Belgium. The company owns and operates several breweries in the United States and Europe, including Boulevard Brewing Co., Brewery Ommegang and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, Calif.; Duvel, Brasserie D’Achouffe, Liefmans, Vedett and Maredsous in Belgium; and Brewery Bernard in the Czech Republic. For more information,