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Diageo announces executive board shake-up

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes has today announced a series of changes to the company’s executive committee, indicating a greater focus on India and China.

Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo, has announced a series of changes to the company’s executive board

Diageo’s current president of Asia Pacific, Gilbert Ghostine, will now take on the more specific role of president of Diageo India and Greater China, as well as chief corporate development officer.

As chief development officer, Ghostine will be responsible for business development and will be responsible for Diageo’s relationship with French group Moët Hennessy.

Noting Diageo’s acquisitions made in India and China, Menezes claims that the “scale and shape of our business in Asia Pacific has been transformed” and that these markets are “key growth engines for Diageo”.

The news comes eight months after Diageo acquired a majority stake in India’s United Spirits, a move which has encountered a series of obstacles.

Menezes also announced that there would be a shift in leadership of the emerging markets outside of Latin America, appointing Nick Blazquez as president of Diageo Africa, Eurasia and Pacific.

Blazquez will maintain his current position of president of Diageo Africa, Turkey, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and global sales.

“Bringing these markets under Nick’s leadership will enable to us to build on the footprint we have already created in these fast growth geographies,” said Menezes.

He added that David Cutter, currently international supply centre director, will takeover from David Gosnell as president global supply and procurement when he retires at the end of this financial year.

Menezes added: “When I became chief executive I set out my ambition for Diageo to become one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world.

“In the last nine months I have made changes to align the organisation behind that ambition and today I have announced further changes to the Diageo Executive Committee to ensure we achieve it.”

All changes will come into affect on 1 July.

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