MILTON, Del. (AP) — Sam Calagione has stepped down as CEO of Delaware’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and is handing that responsibility to his longtime chief operating officer.

The News Journal (http://delonline.us/1neEUwp ) reports Nick Benz has been promoted to CEO after spending 11 years at the Milton-based brewery. Calagione will remain president, founder and chairman of the board.

The company says Benz will expand the breadth and depth of Dogfish Head operations, while Calagione will focus on strategy, new products and collaborations.

Benz is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. He lives in Lewes.

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Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.com

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