Board Appointment

Diageo PLC
31 May 2002


                                                                     31 May 2002


                      PAUL WALKER TO JOIN THE DIAGEO BOARD


Diageo plc announced today the appointment of Paul Walker to the Diageo Board on
1 June 2002. Paul Walker is chief executive of The Sage Group plc. His
appointment brings to eight the number of Diageo's non-executive directors.

Commenting on the appointment, Lord Blyth said:

'I am delighted to welcome Paul to the Diageo Board. He brings with him a
different perspective to the boardroom and we are very much looking forward to
working with him'.


                                     -ends-

Notes to Editor:


 1. Diageo's chairman is James Blyth. Other non-executive members are:

    Rodney Chase, Maria Lilja, Keith Oates, Lord Hollick, William Shanaham, and
    Sir Robert Wilson. Executive members of the board are Paul Walsh (CEO), Nick
    Rose (CFO).

 2. Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an unrivalled
    collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B,
    Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray and Captain Morgan. Diageo is a global company,
    trading in over 180 markets around the world. The company is listed both on
    the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and on the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).
    For more information about Diageo, its brands, people and performance, visit
    us at www.diageo.com.

 3. The Sage Group plc is one of the world's largest providers of business
    software solutions and has a market capitalisation of just over £3.5bn and
    employs some 4,000 people worldwide.


For further information


Media enquiries to     Isabelle Thomas [phone]

[e-mail]

                       Suzy Goulding      [phone]

                       [e-mail]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange