NewAge Industries, Inc. (NAI) announced that Ken Baker has officially completed his transition from President and CEO, a role he held since 1984 after succeeding his father and company founder Ray Baker. Baker will remain on the Board of Directors. Mary Marcus assumed the permanent role of President and CEO in December 2024, as previously announced.
Baker was honored on May 8, 2026, at a celebration attended by over 300 guests at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, Pennsylvania. The event included the company's annual ESOP share price announcement.
During his tenure, Baker was instrumental in advancing the company's commitment to sustainability and employee ownership. Under his leadership, NAI implemented significant environmental initiatives, including powering its corporate headquarters and a Bucks County manufacturing facility with solar energy from thousands of onsite panels. These efforts helped the company achieve an EcoVadis Platinum sustainability rating.
Baker also oversaw expansion into the high-purity market with the formation of the AdvantaPure product line, which developed tubing and hose solutions for critical applications such as vaccine development and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Meanwhile, the company continued to serve industrial markets through its NewAge Performance Products line.
In 2024, NAI opened a manufacturing facility in Coevorden, Netherlands, following the establishment of a sales office in Hong Kong in 2023, adding to existing operations in Germany and Brazil.
A strong advocate of employee ownership, Baker began transitioning NAI to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structure in 2006. Today, employees own 100 percent of the organization. Baker co-founded the Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership and chairs its board.
Beyond business, Baker supports organizations including WHYY in Philadelphia and ACT II Playhouse in Ambler, Pennsylvania. He also founded the Center of Excellence for Employee Ownership at Montgomery County Community College Foundation.
NewAge Industries, headquartered in Southampton, Pennsylvania, is an ISO-9001 certified, 100% employee-owned corporation with a Platinum EcoVadis Sustainability Rating and Certified B Corporation status. The company designs and manufactures fluid transfer systems for high-purity pharmaceutical, biopharma, and industrial markets.
For HR vendors, this transition underscores the growing importance of employee ownership as a retention and engagement strategy. NAI's 100% ESOP structure demonstrates how ownership culture can drive long-term commitment and sustainability. Additionally, the company's expansion into global markets and high-purity applications signals demand for specialized talent and training in biopharma and advanced manufacturing. Vendors should monitor how NAI's ownership model influences employee productivity and innovation, potentially setting a benchmark for similar firms.
