Diageo appoints Ivan Menezes as COO

Diageo plc has today announced the appointment of Ivan Menezes as Chief Operating Officer. Mr Menezes is currently President Diageo North America and Chairman of Diageo Asia Pacific and Diageo Latin America & Caribbean. He will take up his new role on 1 March 2012.

As Chief Operating Officer, Mr Menezes will lead Diageo’s operating businesses globally adding responsibility for Europe and Africa to his current responsibility for North America, Asia Pacific and Latin America & Caribbean. Nick Blazquez (President Africa), Gilbert Ghostine (President Asia Pacific), Randy Millian (President Latin America & Caribbean), Andrew Morgan (President Europe) and Larry Schwartz, who is concurrently appointed President North America, will report to Mr Menezes.

Reporting to Paul Walsh will be Ivan Menezes (Chief Operating Officer), Deirdre Mahlan (Chief Financial Officer), Andy Fennell (Chief Marketing Officer), David Gosnell (President Global Supply and Procurement), Gareth Williams (Human Resources Director), Tim Proctor (General Counsel) and Paul Tunnacliffe (Company Secretary).

Commenting on the appointment, Paul Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Diageo plc said:

“Given our strong performance momentum and the scope and scale of our ambition, the Diageo Board and I agree that now is the right time to extend Ivan’s remit to embrace all of our markets globally. Ivan has a track record of delivery throughout his eight year leadership in North America and more recently in Asia Pacific and Latin America & Caribbean, and I am confident that Ivan can sustain and develop the performance momentum we demonstrated in our half year results as he broadens his responsibilities.

We have highly capable leaders in our regions and markets and I am confident that their partnership with Ivan will enhance our leadership capacity at the top of the business. I very much look forward to working even more closely with Ivan to deliver our exciting future.”

Ivan Menezes said:

“I am honoured and delighted to take up this appointment. I look forward to working with our talented senior management team to deliver even more success in the months and years to come.”