Gatlinburg, Tennessee-based distiller Ole Smoky has named industry veteran Mike Novy as the company’s new CEO. Novy succeeds Robert Hall, who has served in the role since 2016 and will remain with the company to assist with the executive transition before retiring. The Ole Smoky brand of moonshines and whiskies has U.S. volume above 1.2 million cases, according to Impact Databank.

Novy joins Ole Smoky from the Calabasas Beverage Company, which handles Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila and Kylie Jenner’s Sprinter line of vodka-based RTDs. In addition, Novy has held leadership roles at Gallo and Constellation Brands. In his new role, Novy will lead both Ole Smoky and Tanteo Tequila (approximately 50,000 cases), which the distiller added to its portfolio in 2023.—Shane English