Return of the ‘world’s worst boss’? BrewDog co-founder James Watt ‘considers shopping for again’ struggling craft beer agency – regardless of wave of ‘poisonous office’ allegations

BrewDog co-founder and ‘worst boss in the world’ James Watt is considering buying back the craft beer firm after it was put up for sale. 

Watt, who was declared ‘captain and co-founder’ when he stepped down as CEO in 2024, is understood to be canvassing support from financial backers to launch a bid.

He remains the largest shareholder of the Scottish brewer which yesterday announced it had appointed restructuring experts AlixPartners to look for potential investors.  

BrewDog’s price tag is thought to be far lower than its once-mooted £2billion valuation, one insider told Sky News. 

The brewer, behind craft beers such as Elvis Juice and Punk IPA, has posted pre-tax losses for five consecutive years. 

The spiraling decline in BrewDog’s popularity resulted in ten bars closing across the UK in July – including its first pub in Gallowgate, Aberdeen, not far from its Ellon HQ.

Last month, the company announced it was closing its distilling brands, sparking concerns for jobs at its facility in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. 

Watt’s possible return to the helm of the firm would come two years after he stood down from the top job.

He founded the firm in 2007 alongside his friend Martin Dickie from a garage. 

Watt has claimed he had been described as the ‘Darth Vader of CEOs’ and listed the ‘horrible’ moves he made as a boss.

This included gifting 20 per cent of his shares to the team, gifting team members and their families £250,000 and rejecting a salary during the pandemic.

The husband of Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo previous 17 year tenure was marred by a string of controversies including a workplace culture row.  

Former workers accused the beer company in 2021 of operating a ‘culture of fear’ and said there were ‘toxic attitudes’ towards junior employees.

And in 2022 its controversial Watt was accused of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power.

Former BrewDog USA workers told the BBC how his behaviour made them feel ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘powerless’.

Lawyers for Watt denied these claims but a complaint to Ofcom over the corporation’s documentary exposing his alleged inappropriate behaviour was thrown out by the broadcasting watchdog in February 2024.

Months later, in May the same year, Watt stepped down as chief executive after leading the company for 17 years.

He said in a statement: ‘During my time at the helm of BrewDog, there have been highs and lows, up and downs, crazy successes and incredibly hard challenges. 

‘When I look back on the last 17 years my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude.’

In 2024, BrewDog also sparked fury after announcing it would no longer hire new workers on the real living wage and instead pay below the legal minimum wage.

The Daily Mail previously revealed how in December 2024 Mr Watt led a party of 15 through the Aberdeenshire village of Braemar for his stag do.

At one point during their night out the group stopped at Bertie’s Whisky Bar in the ultra-fashionable Fife Arms Hotel and racked up an eyewatering bill of nearly £159,000 after ordering ten Laphroaigs dating back to the 1940s – at £4,000 a pop.

A further 15 tots of 50-year-old Balvenie were added to the tab – swelling it by £67,500.

While it was not known who foot the bill, it was certainly well within the former BrewDog boss’s financial reach, with an August 2025 estimation that together with his reality TV star wife, the pair were worth £425million.

Mr Watt’s fortune came from the rise of BrewDog, which began life in his garage nearly 20 years ago.

The beer giant rose to fame after a number of publicity stunts which Mr Watt had himself masterminded.

These include riding a tank through the City of London and projecting his naked image onto the Houses of Parliament.

The beer giant has reported a cumulative £148million in pre-tax losses over five consecutive years of decline.

It operates 72 bars around the world as well as four breweries.

A BrewDog spokesperson said: ‘As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company.

‘Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business.

‘This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.

‘BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the number one independent brewer in the UK and with a highly engaged global community.

‘We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made.

‘Our breweries, bars and venues continue to operate as normal. We will not comment on any further speculation.’