Diageo confirms Bagley to leave amid GTME restructure

Doug Bagley is to depart the Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME) team after three years as managing director, as the company separates its domestic Middle East and travel retail businesses.

Doug Bagley is to depart Diageo as it splits its GTME business

The company has undertaken a review of its GTME business to ensure it has the “right structure and resources in place” to focus on growth opportunities, a spokesperson told The Spirits Business.

Under the proposed changes, the travel retail business will separate from the Middle East and North Africa domestic operations, creating a dedicated global travel division which will move from Singapore to London.

This team will be led by Dayalan Nayager, former regional director GTME Europe, who will take up the role of managing director of Global Travel.

Dayalan joined the business in 2013 and has held various roles including commercial director of Brandhouse in South Africa.

Within the new structure, the commercial team will be “significantly up-weighted” to be in “close proximity to our key customers”, the spokesperson continued.

It is hoped the changes will bring a “stronger focus on first class partnerships and delivering brilliant retail execution. Regional complexity of the current structure will also be removed, streamlining in order to drive improved efficiencies”.

As a result of these changes, Diageo’s domestic MENA business will move reporting lines to Turkey.

“At this stage these changes are proposals only and we will now enter into a consultation period with employees in certain geographies,” said the spokesperson.

“We have briefed our employees today and, as decisions are made, these will be shared with them first and foremost.”

Diageo is also currently consulting staff on changes to its pension scheme, with up to 1,700 employees affected.