Diageo Appoints New CEO

Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes has decided to retire and depart from the Diageo board at the end of June, following 10 years of leading the company. Current Chief Operating Officer Debra Crew will be appointed CEO and a member of the board on July 1.

Prior to being appointed COO in October 2022, Crew was president, Diageo North America and global supply. She is the former president and CEO of Reynolds American, where she served as president and COO, and president and chief commercial officer. Before beginning her tenure at Reynolds, Crew served as PepsiCo’s president, North America nutrition; president, PepsiCo Americas beverages; and president, Western Europe region. She previously held positions with Kraft Foods, Nestlé, and Mars.

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“The board is enormously grateful for Ivan’s contribution over the past decade. Under his stewardship, Diageo has consistently delivered a truly impressive performance to become one of the most respected businesses in the world. Ivan has transformed Diageo’s global footprint, brand portfolio and strategic focus, positioning our business as a clear leader in premium drinks,” says Javier Ferrán, Diageo chairman. 

“The board has diligently planned for Ivan’s successor, and we are delighted to have appointed a leader of Debra’s caliber to the role,” adds Ferrán. “Debra has been a highly valued member of Diageo’s leadership team in recent years with an impressive track record of delivery both at Diageo and across other global consumer goods companies. She has deep consumer industry expertise as well as proven strategic capabilities, strong operational performance and a clear ability to build and lead teams. I have no doubt that Diageo is in the right hands for the next phase of its growth.”