Diageo has announced that Sir Ivan Menezes will stand down from the Chief Executive role on 30 June, following ten years of leading the business. Debra Crew, currently Chief Operating Officer, will take over the position on 1 July,
Menezes joined Diageo through the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997 and held a number of senior positions in the business up until his appointment as CEO in 2013. The drinks giant has grown significantly during his period in charge, now selling over 200 brands in more than 180 markets.
Prior to being appointed COO in October 2022, Crew was President, Diageo North America and Global Supply, leading Diageo’s largest market to 14% organic net sales growth in fiscal 2022.
She is a former President and CEO of Reynolds American, where she delivered strong performance growth before the company’s acquisition. Prior to that, Crew spent five years at PepsiCo, where she served as President, North America Nutrition; President, PepsiCo Americas Beverages; and President, Western Europe Region. She has also held positions with Kraft Foods, Nestlé, and Mars.
Javier Ferrán, Chairman of Diageo, said: “The Board is enormously grateful for Ivan’s contribution over the past decade. Under his stewardship, Diageo has consistently delivered a truly impressive performance to become one of the most respected businesses in the world. Ivan has transformed Diageo’s global footprint, brand portfolio and strategic focus, positioning our business as a clear leader in premium drinks.”
He added: “The Board has diligently planned for Ivan’s successor, and we are delighted to have appointed a leader of Debra’s calibre to the role. Debra has been a highly valued member of Diageo’s leadership team in recent years with an impressive track record of delivery both at Diageo and across other global consumer goods companies. She has deep consumer industry expertise as well as proven strategic capabilities, strong operational performance and a clear ability to build and lead teams. I have no doubt that Diageo is in the right hands for the next phase of its growth.”
