Mountain Culture Beer Co. founder DJ McCready has been named Consumer & Lifestyle Executive of the Year at the 2025 CEO Magazine Awards.

Australia’s most influential leaders gathered at Crown Melbourne on 12 November, as The CEO Magazine hosted the 14th annual Executive of the Year Awards.

The awards shine a spotlight on the individuals steering organisations through disruption, growth and purpose-driven transformation. This year’s cohort reflected a rapidly evolving business landscape where innovation, resilience and human-centered leadership are shaping long-term value creation across every sector.

 The CEO Magazine Founder Chris Dutton said: “What continues to impress me is the depth of leadership talent in Australia – not just the scale of commercial achievement but the character behind it.

“These are leaders who make bold decisions, build exceptional teams and show up for their people in the moments that matter most. I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all of our winners and finalists on their outstanding achievement.”

McCready said: “I’m proud of the team we’ve built here at Mountain Culture and the journey we’ve been on together.

“A lot of our staff joined well before we became a household name, and that start-up ‘scrappy’ mentality is still alive and well. We’re trying to create the best beer brand Australia has ever seen in a saturated market, but one of our core strengths at Mountain Culture is that we do our own thing. That’s what led to the creation of our flagship beer, Status Quo.

“Working directly with customers and the people who are on the front lines of what we do is something I really enjoy. From stakeholders in the pubs, to battleships, bars, restaurants and those who consume our product, finding out what works for them and how we can win together is a very fulfilling part of the job for me.”

“We’re honoured to win the Executive of the Year award from CEO Magazine. It’s great to be recognised outside of our industry as well.”

View the full winners list here.

Pictured main: Mountain Culture co-founders DJ and Harriet McCready.