Diageo (DGE.L) named Chief Operating Officer Debra Crew CEO to succeed retiring long-time leader Ivan Menezes, making her one of few women to manage an FTSE 100 corporation.
The world’s largest spirits firm, which creates Tanqueray gin and Don Julio tequila, said Crew would join the board on July 1.
Crew, an industry veteran who became COO last year, was head of Diageo North America and Global Supply from 2020.
“Crew was the most likely CEO replacement,” said Waverton Asset Management fund manager Tineke Frikkee. “She has extensive U.S. market expertise.”
“Ivan Menezes, 63, was a likely successor. Diageo approach should be unchanged.”
Reynolds American CEO Crew was formerly COO.
The former U.S. military intelligence officer worked for Pepsico, Kraft Foods, Nestle, and Mars before that.
Once Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc merged in 1997, Menezes joined Diageo and occupied many prominent roles.
