Omar Perez assumed the presidency of Hensley Beverage Company on August 1, 2026, stepping up from his role as Chief Operating Officer in a succession move the Phoenix-based distributor's leadership described as a planned generational shift.
Perez reports directly to Chief Executive Officer Andy McCain. Chairman Bob Delgado and McCain jointly announced the appointment, framing it as part of deliberate succession planning rather than an abrupt change. "We are confident in Omar's ability to successfully navigate this expanded role as our next generation of leadership continues to develop and evolve," the two executives said in a joint statement.
A 13-Year Climb
Perez joined Hensley in 2013 as Corporate Controller, building his career steadily through the organization's finance and operations functions. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2017 and named Chief Operating Officer in 2024 — a trajectory that gave him direct exposure to sales, strategic planning, marketing, and distribution operations before his elevation to the top operational role. A native of Puerto Rico, Perez holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Puerto Rico and earned his CPA designation in 2002.
Succession at a Major AB Distributor
Founded in 1955 by Jim Hensley, the company has built a 71-year track record as one of the largest distributors in the Anheuser-Busch network — a system that spans hundreds of independent wholesalers responsible for moving Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and a broad portfolio of craft and import brands to retailers and on-premise accounts. For major AB wholesalers, leadership continuity is a closely watched metric: the three-tier distribution system places significant commercial weight on wholesaler management quality, and long-tenured operators like Hensley are considered anchor accounts within the network.
The executive reshuffle comes as the broader beer distribution sector navigates persistent volume headwinds. U.S. beer shipments have faced multi-year pressure from spirits and ready-to-drink alternatives, putting a premium on distributor-level operational discipline and portfolio diversification — areas where Perez's dual background in finance and operations is seen as an asset. Industry observers tracking leadership transitions in beverage distribution note that internal promotions of this kind signal organizational stability, particularly at family-influenced enterprises managing generational handoffs.
What's Next
McCain remains CEO, and Delgado continues as Chairman, preserving senior continuity while Perez takes on day-to-day operational leadership. The company signaled no immediate structural changes to its distribution footprint or brand portfolio. For operators and retail accounts in Hensley's Arizona market, the transition is expected to be seamless given Perez's existing relationships across the business. Coverage of broader beverage alcohol distribution trends points to consolidation and route-to-market efficiency as the dominant strategic priorities for wholesale operators through the remainder of the decade.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
