BURLINGTON, VT. – Ben & Jerry’s announced it promoted chief marketing officer Dave Stever, naming him the ice cream maker’s new chief executive officer.

Stever replaces Matthew McCarthy, who recently retired from Ben & Jerry's after five years serving as CEO.

A tour guide at the company’s Waterbury, Vt., factory when he first got started in 1988, Stever has worked for Ben & Jerry’s for nearly 35 years. The CMO for the past 12 years, his employer credited him with working to create partnerships with the Dave Matthews Band, Stephen Colbert, Willie Nelson, Sir Elton John, Jimmy Fallon, Colin Kaepernick, Netflix, Chance the Rapper, Tony's Chocolonely and Ava DuVernay. Per the company, he was well established as a leader in management when Ben & Jerry’s became a part of Unilever more than 20 years ago.

Said Anuradha Mittal, Ben & Jerry's board chair: "The board is very pleased with the selection of Dave as Ben & Jerry's next CEO, and not just because of his passion for our euphoric super-premium ice cream. Dave's long history at Ben & Jerry's, along with his recognition of the integral role that the company's values and social mission play in our growth and our commitment to advancing justice and equity in the world, make him the best choice to write the next chapter in Ben & Jerry's remarkable story."

The company shared that Stever’s promotion marks the first time since Ben Cohen stepped down as CEO in 1994 that a staff member was elevated from within to CEO.

Said cofounder Jerry Greenfield: "Ben and I have known Dave for over three decades and we are absolutely thrilled that he will be leading Ben & Jerry's into the next chapter of our company's history, Dave started out 30 years ago as a tour guide. And now he's CEO. He knows Ben & Jerry's inside and out. He lives it and breathes it. We are psyched to have someone with Dave's talent, passion and demonstrated ability as our CEO.”