Debra Crew, first woman to lead alcohol group Diageo

The British alcohol group Diageo announced on Tuesday the appointment of a new chief executive, Debra Crew, who will take office from July 1 to replace Ivan Menezes, who is retiring.

This is the first time the group will have a female leader.

Mr. Menezes, 63, will leave the board of directors (Board) on June 30 after ten “successful” years in his position, adds Diageo, while Ms. Crew, who is 52, will join the Board as soon as it is taken up. of functions.

According to the press release, with her appointment as general manager, “women will represent more than 50% of the company’s executive committee from July 1”.

Ms. Crew will also join the very exclusive club of women leaders of companies listed on the FTSE 100, the flagship index of the London Stock Exchange.

Diageo “has experienced significant growth” while Mr. Menezes was at its helm, and now distributes “200 brands in more than 180 markets,” the statement said.

The group is “number one in terms of sales by value for Scotch or Canadian whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, liqueurs”, among others, lists the press release.

Ms. Crew was previously one of the executives of Diageo in North America, and before that had led the vaping and new products arm of the Reynolds tobacco group, after a stint at Pepsico.

A graduate of the universities of Denver and Chicago, she is also a former US Army officer.

“The Board of Directors is very grateful to Ivan”, who has “positioned our company at the forefront of the premium beverage market”, commented Javier Ferrán, Chairman of the Board.

Ivan Menezes for his part said he was “very proud” of his record and thanked his “28,000 talented colleagues” within the company, while saying he was “delighted to hand over to Debra”.

The latter believes that Mr. Menezes leaves the company “very well placed for its future growth”.

Shortly after the opening of the London Stock Exchange, Diageo lost 0.53% to 3564.00 pence in a slightly rising market.