Paul Walsh becomes director of United Spirits

Paul Walsh has been appointed an additional director of United Spirits today, just weeks after stepping down from Diageo as CEO.

Paul Walsh, who is due to join contract caterer Compass, is now also a director of United Spirits

The Indian drinks group that’s majority owned by Diageo following the acquisition of 25.02% shares earlier this year, announced Walsh’s appointment today at a meeting of the board.

Walsh’s appointment comes just days after it was revealed he would take an unspecified £80,000 a year role funded by Diageo for up to five years.

Walsh will step down from the Diageo board on 19 September, but remain in an advisory role to new CEO Ivan Menezes until June 2014 to “ensure a smooth and carefully managed hand-over, joining contract caterer Compass as a non-executive director in January 2014, becoming chairman on 6 February, to drive the group’s expansion overseas.

The United Spirits board has also announced the appointment of Vikram Singh Mehta as an independent director of the company effective today.

Mehta also serves on the boards of Colgate Palmolive India Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra and Vodafone India Ltd, as well as Larsen & Toubro.