Executive Committee Change

RNS Number : 2796E

Diageo PLC

25 September 2008

 



DIAGEO ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks company, has today announced the following changes to the Diageo Executive Committee:

• Rob Malcolm, currently President, Global Marketing, Sales & Innovation will retire from the Executive Committee and from Diageo in December 2008. 

• Ron Anderson is appointed to the Executive Committee as Chief Customer Officer and Andy Fennell as Chief Marketing Officer, reporting to Paul Walsh, CEO. 

• Six of Diageo's most senior business leaders have also been appointed to the Executive Committee. Joining the Executive Committee in their current roles and with their current reporting lines will be:

Nick Blazquez        Managing Director, Africa

David Gosnell         Managing Director, Global Supply

Randy Millian          Managing Director, Latin America & Caribbean

Ian Wright               Corporate Relations Director

Gilbert Ghostine is appointed to the Executive Committee as Managing Director, Continental Europe with expanded responsibilities that now include Iberia. Gilbert Ghostine continues to report to Andrew Morgan.

Larry Schwartz is appointed to the Executive Committee as President, Diageo USA with responsibility for the US spirits, beer and wine businesses. Larry Schwartz continues to report to Ivan Menezes.

• Ivan Menezes is appointed Chairman, Asia Pacific in addition to his current role as President, Diageo North America. 

• These appointments will take effect from 1 October 2008

Commenting on these appointments Paul Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, said: 

'The appointments I have announced today reflect the contribution which these individuals already make to Diageo's performance. Their inclusion in the Executive Committee will bring even greater focus to every aspect of the planning, orchestration and delivery of the operating performance of our business. In addition we will now have better representation of the breadth of markets across which our business operates. 

'Under Rob Malcolm Diageo has established itself as a leading marketer in the world of consumer goods. I thank Rob for the significant contribution he has made to the success of Diageo's brands globally. To build on that success I want to sharpen our focus on the critical role of sales with the appointment of Ron Anderson to the new role of Chief Customer Officer. Andy Fennell is currently Marketing and Innovation Director, Europe. He has a track record of successful marketing campaigns including his work as global brand director for Smirnoff and more recently driving the success of the Guinness campaigns in Europe. 

'Under the leadership of John Pollaers we have made significant progress in creating the strategic platform we need in Asia Pacific for Diageo to be the major regional force we intend it to be. In appointing Ivan Menezes as Chairman of the Asia Pacific region I want to reinforce our commitment to building on this momentum by leveraging Ivan's knowledge of the region.

'I believe these changes will create a deeper pool of leadership experiences and more flexibility at the Executive Committee. This will support the excellent execution of our goals for which I want Diageo to be renowned and it will be key to the delivery of our aspirations for the future.'

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Doherty

020 7927 5528

07973 382 6639

[e-mail]

Rowan Pearman

020 7927 4751

07976 275 756

[e-mail]

Notes to Editors 

Membership of the Diageo Executive Committee from 1 October 2008

Paul Walsh           Chief Executive Officer

Nick Rose             Chief Financial Officer

Ron Anderson       Chief Customer Officer

Nick Blazquez       Managing Director, Africa

Andy Fennell         Chief Marketing Officer

Stuart Fletcher      President, International

Gilbert Ghostine    Managing Director, Continental Europe

David Gosnell        Managing Director, Global Supply

Jim Grover             Director, Global Business Support

Rob Malcolm         President, Global Marketing, Sales & Innovation (until 31.12.08)

Ivan Menezes        President, Diageo North America 
                              Chairman, Asia Pacific

Randy Millian         Managing Director, Latin America & Caribbean

Andrew Morgan     President, Europe

John Pollaers        President, Asia Pacific

Tim Proctor          General Counsel

Larry Schwartz     President, Diageo USA

Gareth Williams    Human Resources Director

Ian Wright             Corporate Relations Director

About Diageo

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. 

Diageo is a global company, trading 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 Diageo.com. Visit DRINKiQ.com, our global resource that helps combat alcohol misuse and promote responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

 

END

 

 

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