J. Neal Insley was named president/CEO, National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association. He succeds Jim Sgueo, is retiring after 53 years with NABCA and who has served as its CEO for 28 years.
“Neal’s experience in enforcement, his legal background, his role as former chairman of the Virginia ABC and his role on the NABCA board, as well as his current position makes him the perfect candidate to step into this leadership role,” said A.D. Zander Guy, NABCA Chairman of the Board. “The selection committee felt that his understanding of beverage alcohol from these numerous perspectives will allow him to carry on with NABCA’s vision and mission, and continue to move the Association forward,” Guy added. “As we look to the future, we’re confident that Neal is the right person to lead the association in providing the highest level of service and support to the control jurisdictions as well as the industry.”
Sgueo said he is “confident Insley is the right person to lead the association and feel positive he will provide the highest level of expertise to the control jurisdictions, the industry and other stakeholders.”
Insley began his career in 1993 as a police officer with the Virginia Marine Police. In 1996, he was hired as a special agent with the Virginia ABC. In 1999, he began attending law school and continued to perform his duties as an ABC Special Agent. In 2003, he graduated from law school and was admitted to practice law in Virginia.
He later left law enforcement to work as a state prosecutor in two separate jurisdictions. He then entered the private sector and focused on alcohol beverage law. In his private practice, he had represented clients in an array of alcohol beverage control related issues ranging from small, sole proprietorships to national chain restaurants, distributors and manufacturers of alcohol.
In 2010, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell appointed Insley to serve as Commissioner and full-time Chairman of the Virginia ABC Board. He served as Chairman of the NABCA Board from 2012-2014 and became the association’s full-time, in-house general counsel in 2015.
The appointment was praised by Chris Swonger, president/CEO, Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. “Neal brings to the position a deep understanding of the control state system from his current role at NABCA and as a former chair of the Virginia ABC. He fully understands the careful balance control states aim to achieve in fulfilling the important regulatory and responsibility functions of the control state system, while also generating revenue and providing first-rate customer service,” Swonger said.