Ivan Menezes-led Diageo, the world’s largest liquor maker, announced top level management changes spinning out India and China out of Asia Pacific as separate new business unit under Gilbert Ghostine. This is part of a string of top management changes, effective from July.
Ghostine, who was earlier the president of Asia-Pacific at Diageo, will now focus on the development of firm's position in India and China. He will take over as president, Diageo India and Greater China, and also gets a newly created position of chief corporate development officer.
He will be responsible for relationship with Mot Hennessy and will join on the Mot Hennessy/Diageo joint committee.
The firm has also reconfigured the leadership of its other emerging markets outside Latin America and Caribbean with Nick Blazquez being appointed as president, Diageo Africa, Eurasia and Pacific. In this expanded role he now takes full responsibility for the markets of North Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and GTME, alongside his existing responsibility for Africa, Turkey, Russia and Eastern Europe.
In addition, the firm has said its global supply and procurement function will report to Deirdre Mahlan, currently CFO. David Gosnell, president global supply and procurement, is retiring from the Diageo Executive Committee at the end of this financial year and David Cutter, currently international supply centre director, is appointed president global supply and procurement and will join the Executive Committee reporting to Mahlan.
Diageo had recently hiked its stake in United Spirits by acquiring 2.4 per cent more from a foreign portfolio investor for Rs 866 crore.
United Spirits is India’s as well as the world’s largest liquor company by volume and Diageo has committed over $1 billion in tranches to pick 28.7 per cent stake in the Indian public listed firm.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)
