Maria Lilja Appointed Non-executive Director

DIAGEO PLC
28 October 1999

               Board Appointment at Diageo

Diageo today announces the appointment of Maria Lilja  as
a  non-executive director of Diageo, effective 1 November
1999.

Maria   Lilja   is   currently  Chairman   of   Nyman   &
Schultz/American  Express Business  Travel,  Scandinavia.
She  played a leading role in building Nyman and Schultz,
a  long-established  Swedish travel  management  company,
that  was acquired by American Express in 1993, following
which she became Head of Business Travel Europe, American
Express, in 1996.

Commenting  on  the  appointment,  Diageo  Chairman,  Sir
Anthony Greener said:

'I  am  delighted  to announce the appointment  of  Maria
Lilja.   She will bring a variety of complementary skills
to  the Diageo Board.  Her international experience,  and
her  knowledge of developing business tools, such  as  e-
commerce and information technology, are highly relevant.

For information:

Kathryn Partridge   Media Relations     + 44 (0)171 927 5225


Notes to editors:

Maria  Lilja  is  a Swedish national  aged  55.   She  is
married  with two grown up children, and currently  lives
in Stockholm and London.  Having joined Nyman and Schultz
in  1985, as Marketing Director, she became President  in
1990,  then President and CEO when Nyman and Schultz  was
taken  over  by  American Express in  1993.   She  became
Senior  Vice  President  and  Head  of  Business  Travel,
Europe,  American  Express,  in  1996  and  Chairman   of
American Express Business Travel, Scandinavia, in 1999.

Her  other non-executive roles are Bilia AB - a Stockholm
listed public company which is a subsidiary of Volvo  and
operates  as  its  retail distributor, Mandator  AB  -  a
Stockholm listed IT management company, number  three  in
its  market position, Investment Bure AB - a fast growing
Stockholm listed investment company, Intrum Justitia BV -
the  international  debt  and credit  management  company
based  in  Amsterdam.  She is also the  Chairman  of  the
Board of Poolia AB, a Stockholm listed company, providing
interim management expertise for companies.

Diageo,  the  food and drink group, is made  up  of  UDV,
Pillsbury, Guinness and Burger King.  Diageo's key brands
include  Johnnie Walker and J&B Scotch whiskies, Smirnoff
vodka,  Gordon's  gin,  Baileys cream  liqueur,  Guinness
stout,  Pillsbury,  Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs  and  Burger
King.

The  Diageo group operates in over 200 markets worldwide,
and has international sales of £12 billion ($19 billion).
The  company  is  listed on the London  (DGE),  New  York
(DEO), and Paris stock exchanges.

Additional   information  on  the   Diageo   group,   its
businesses and brands is available at www.diageo.com