The yerba mate drinks maker said Lesnard will succeed Ben Mand as it shifts from operational restructuring to brand growth, wider distribution and rising consumer demand for functional beverages.
Yerba Madre appointed board member Steve Lesnard as chief executive officer effective July 20, 2026, replacing Ben Mand after a period in which the company said it rebuilt its operating base. The Oakland- and Los Angeles-headquartered yerba mate company said Mand will remain involved as an advisor to the Board of Directors to support the transition. The company said Mand oversaw a broad operational transformation, including changes to supply chain and co-manufacturing relationships, a move from largely self-distribution to regional distribution partnerships, stronger social impact commitments, and the brand transition from Guayakí to Yerba Madre. Yerba Madre said it is now entering a new phase aimed at accelerating brand awareness, expanding distribution and bringing more consumers into the yerba mate category. Chairman of the Board Emily White said Lesnard already knows the business through his board role and has experience scaling brands while preserving authenticity. Lesnard said Yerba Madre had spent more than three decades proving a brand can pair purposefully sourced ingredients with ecosystem restoration and community support. Lesnard brings more than two decades of experience across Nike, The North Face, Sephora and Godiva. Yerba Madre also added Scott Miller, co-founder and CEO of YESLY Water, to its board. The company describes itself as the 30-year pioneer of regenerative yerba mate and said it is the category leader in ready-to-drink mate beverages across North America, with products sold in more than 45,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada.