Diageo announces changes to Executive Committee

RNS Number : 3900D

Diageo PLC

28 March 2014

 



28 March 2014

DIAGEO ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, today made the following announcement:

'When I became Chief Executive I set out my ambition for Diageo to become one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. In the last nine months I have made changes to align the organisation behind that ambition and today I have announced further changes to the Diageo Executive Committee to ensure we achieve it. These changes will be effective 1 July 2014.

Over the last few years the scale and shape of our business in Asia Pacific has transformed, primarily by the acquisitions we have made in India and Greater China. These markets are key growth engines for Diageo, and Gilbert Ghostine will now focus on the development of our position in India and China, a position which he orchestrated as he led the expansion of our business in Asia Pacific. I have also asked Gilbert to take on the newly created role of Chief Corporate Development Officer, responsible for Business Development. In addition he will be responsible for our relationship with Moet Hennessy and will join me on the Moet Hennessy/Diageo Joint Committee. Gilbert's title will be President, Diageo India and Greater China, and Chief Corporate Development Officer.

My second change is to reconfigure the leadership of our emerging markets outside Latin America and Caribbean and Nick Blazquez is appointed President, Diageo Africa, Eurasia and Pacific. Nick will now take full responsibility for the markets of North Asia, South East Asia, Australia and GTME, alongside his existing responsibility for Africa, Turkey, Russia and Eastern Europe, and the global route to consumer work. Bringing these markets under Nick's leadership will enable to us to build on the footprint we have already created in these fast growth geographies.

Those changes focus on growth and my third change focuses on delivery of efficient growth. I have decided that our Global Supply and Procurement function will report to Deirdre Mahlan, CFO. David Gosnell, President Global Supply and Procurement, is retiring from the Diageo Executive Committee at the end of this financial year and David Cutter, currently International Supply Centre Director, is appointed President Global Supply and Procurement and will join the Executive Committee reporting to Deirdre.

David Gosnell has led Diageo's Global Supply and Procurement organisation for ten years having joined Diageo in 1998 as European Supply Director. He became President, Global Supply in 2003 and joined the Diageo Executive Committee in 2008. Under his leadership Global Supply and Procurement has been simplified and modernised and David has led the capacity expansion programmes, notably for scotch in Scotland but also in the Virgin Islands and North America which will fuel our future growth. He also led the development of our supply footprint in the emerging markets, embedding Diageo's global standards of operational excellence. David leaves Diageo with our very best wishes for the future and our thanks for all he has achieved in building Diageo's supply function to the very high standard we have today.

The three changes I am announcing today, together with the appointments I have already made to the Executive Committee, bring together a strong leadership team. I congratulate Gilbert, Nick and David Cutter on their new appointments and I look forward to working with them and the whole Diageo Executive, to deliver our ambition for Diageo to become one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world.'

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

James Crampton [phone]
Lisa Crane [phone]

[e-mail]

Investor enquiries to:

Catherine James [phone]

Pier Falcione [phone]

[e-mail]

Notes to editors

Gilbert Ghostine

Gilbert Ghostine has been President Asia Pacific since 2009 and a member of the Diageo Executive Committee since 2008.  The Asia Pacific region represents 15% of Diageo net sales and spans all Asia, inclusive of Australia, the Middle East and the global travel business.

Gilbert began his career with Diageo in 1995 in his home country, Lebanon. In 1998 he was appointed as head of the Dubai hub, covering Africa, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Canary Islands.  He moved to North America in 2002 to assume the role of President Central IMC, and then became President of US major markets and national accounts.  In 2005, Gilbert moved to Europe with responsibility for the Northern European business and was appointed Managing Director of Continental Europe a year later.  From Europe he moved to Singapore to take up the role of President Asia Pacific in June 2009. 

During his tenure with Diageo, Gilbert has managed our businesses across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East & Asia Pacific.

Nick Blazquez

Nick Blazquez was appointed President, Diageo Africa, Turkey, Russia, Central & Eastern Europe and Global Sales - the largest developing market region within Diageo representing 20% of net sales - in July 2012. Prior to this role, Nick was President of Diageo Africa where since 2004 he has managed the transformational growth of businesses and brands across a number of categories in key markets. Under his leadership, net sales have increased nearly threefold, spirits growth has been transformed and Diageo has expanded into new growth markets such as Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Prior to being appointed President Diageo Africa, Nick was Managing Director of Diageo's Key Markets in Asia for three years with responsibility for markets including Thailand, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. He joined Diageo in 1989 and held various senior roles within the company's beer and spirits businesses

Andy Fennell, President and COO Africa and member of the Diageo Executive Committee will continue to report to Nick.

David Cutter

David Cutter was appointed as Supply Director of Diageo's International Supply Centre (ISC) in June 2013. He is based at the ISC's head office in Edinburgh and responsible for all of Diageo's spirits and beer production operations in Europe, which includes production of global brands such as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Baileys, Smirnoff, Gordon's and Tanqueray.

Previously David was Diageo President Supply Americas overseeing the company's end-to-end supply operations for the Americas, which comprises the North America and Latin America & Caribbean markets.  During this time David also led the creation of a new distillery in the US Virgin Islands.

Prior to moving to North America, David led Diageo's Asia Pacific Supply business based in Singapore. He has worked in manufacturing, supply and product management for more than 20 years and prior to joining Diageo held leadership roles at other leading consumer goods companies including Frito-Lay and SC Johnson.

Diageo Executive Committee

As of 1 July 2014, the Diageo Executive Committee will comprise:

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive

Deirdre Mahlan, Chief Financial Officer

Nick Blazquez, President, Diageo Africa, Eurasia and Pacific

David Cutter, President, Global Supply and Procurement

Andy Fennell, President and COO, Diageo Africa

Alberto Gavazzi, President, Diageo Latin America and Caribbean

Gilbert Ghostine, President, Diageo India and China, and Chief Corporate Development Officer

John Kennedy, President, Diageo Western Europe

Charlotte Lambkin, Corporate Relations Director

Anna Manz, Group Strategy Director

Siobhan Moriarty, General Counsel

Syl Saller, Chief Marketing Officer

Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America

Leanne Wood, Human Resources Director

About Diageo

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

 

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