Diageo reportedly searching for new chairman

Johnnie Walker owner Diageo has hired a leading boardroom headhunter to find a successor for its chairman Franz Humer, according to reports.

Diageo’s spirits portfolio includes Captain Morgan rum and Tanqueray gin

As reported by Sky News, Diageo has recruited JCA Group to find a non-executive director with the necessary skills to replace Humer in a couple years’ time.

Humer has been chairman of Diageo since 2008, and previously ran healthcare company Roche.

Sources reportedly told Sky News that JCA’s appointment was part of “careful long-term boardroom succession planning”, as Humer has sat on the board since 2005.

Diageo declined to comment on the matter.

In the firm’s annual report, it was explained that Humer’s term as chairman will come to an end in June 2016.

Diageo has undergone numerous changes recently, selling the majority of its wine operations to Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates and revealing a three-part swap with Heineken that saw it hand over control of the Red Stripe brand.

During an investors’ conference last month, Diageo said it must combat the “erosion” of consumer trust in big institutions, calling Johnnie Walker the world’s “largest craft whisky brand”.

David Gates detailed plans for the group’s global growth strategy, which includes a five-part plan to make its Scotch brands “more open” and “kill any BS”.

At the same conference, the company said it plans to make The Singleton the world’s best-selling single malt Scotch whisky following a brand redesign and the international launch of its three expressions.