The big interview: Jeff Kozak, Whistlepig 14th April, 2021 by Melita Kiely
Leaving the powerhouse of Diageo for a small start-up took courage, but Jeff Kozak, CEO of whiskey brand Whistlepig, has made a real success of things.
Jeff Kozak, CEO of Whistlepig
For rye whiskey aficionados, Whistlepig is one of the leading names in the business. Though the brand is still relatively small in the grand scheme of things – shifting more than 100,000 cases in 2020 – it is making big waves in the industry.
At the helm is CEO Jeff Kozak, who has held an eclectic mix of roles in the beverage sector. “I actually got into the whiskey business backwards,” he explains. Having grown up in Canada, Kozak started his professional career as a commodities trader selling wheat, rye and corn to millers and bakers, as well as various food companies. One of the firms on his roster was the world’s leading spirits producer, Diageo.