Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes dies

Sir Ivan Menezes, chief executive officer of Diageo, has died at the age of 63 after a short illness.

Earlier this week, Diageo had appointed Debra Crew as interim CEO while Menezes recovered from emergency surgery on a stomach ulcer.

Crew became interim CEO with immediate effect, ahead of her appointment as CEO on 1 July. Menezes planned to retire from the company on 31 June 2023 after 10 years leading the company as CEO.

In a statement, Diageo announced Menezes had died with his family at his side.

Javier Ferrán, chairman of Diageo, said it was an “incredibly sad day” and called Menezes “one of the finest leaders of his generation”.

“Ivan was there at the creation of Diageo and over 25 years, shaped Diageo to become one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer companies,” Ferrán said.

“I saw first-hand his steadfast commitment to our people and to creating a culture than enabled everyone to thrive. He invested his time and energy in people at every level of the company and saw potential that others may have overlooked. This is one of many reasons why he was beloved by our employees, past and present.

“Ivan’s energy and his commitment to diversity created a truly inclusive business and enabled Diageo to have a positive impact on the communities we serve. His passion for our brands was second to none and in his heart, he remained the Johnnie Walker marketer from his early days. The desire to build the world’s best brands never left him.

“We are truly privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside such a thoughtful and passionate colleague and friend – a true gentleman. He has built an extraordinary legacy.”

Career highlights

Diageo said Menezes was one of Britain’s longest-serving FTSE chief executives. He joined the company when it was formed in 1997 after a merger and held a number of roles over his 25-year career at Diageo.

During his time at the company, he served as global marketing director for UDV in 1998 and helped develop Johnnie Walker’s iconic Keep Walking campaign.

This was followed by senior positions including president of the firm’s North America arm, and chairman roles for Diageo’s Asia Pacific, and Latin America and Caribbean regions.

Menezes navigated Diageo through the Covid-19 pandemic, delivering a net sales value that was 36% higher than in 2019, the company noted.

Menezes also championed diversity at the company. More than 40% of Diageo’s senior leadership positions are held globally by women, while 37% are ethnically diverse.

Diageo credited Menezes for the firm’s growth during his tenure, with the firm currently selling more than 200 brands in 180-plus markets, and holding the position of the number one company by net sales value in Scotch whisky, vodka, gin, rum, Canadian whisky, liqueurs, and Tequila, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis data.

The company owns a number of spirits brands including Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s gin, Baileys liqueur, and Casamigos Tequila.

In January this year, Menezes received a knighthood for services to business and to equality in the King’s 2023 New Year Honours List.

Menezes is survived by his wife Shibani and two children, Nikhil and Rohini.