Governor Newsom Reappoints ABC’s Director and Chief Deputy Director

Sacramento – Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that Jacob Appelsmith has been reappointed director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, where he has served since 2017. Appelsmith was chief campus counsel at the University of California, Davis from 2013 to 2017. He was senior advisor and director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from 2010 to 2013. Appelsmith held multiple positions at the California Department of Justice, including senior assistant attorney general from 1994 to 2010. He was chief at the California Bureau of Gaming Control from 2008 to 2011. He was an associate at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro from 1988 to 1994. Appelsmith earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

The governor also announced that Eric Hirata, has been reappointed chief deputy director at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, where he has served since 2017. Hirata has held multiple positions at ABC since 1996, including deputy division chief from 2009 to 2017, project manager from 2008 to 2009, legislative director from 2006 to 2008, district administrator from 2005 to 2006, supervising agent from 2002 to 2005, agent at the Special Operations Unit, Northern Division Office from 2001 to 2002, agent at the Special Operations Unit, Southern Division Office from 1999 to 2001, and agent at the Inglewood District Office from 1996 to 1999.  Hirata was an investigator assistant at the Department of Consumer Affairs from 1994 to 1996. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Stanislaus. Hirata is a member of the California Peace Officers’ Association, National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, Sacramento Asian Peace Officers Association and the Asian Pacific State Employees Association and foundation.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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