E-Malt.com News article: 2493

Diageo announces changes to senior management in its key and venture markets. Stuart Fletcher, President, Key Markets, announced on April 14 changes to senior management of Diageo businesses in Africa, Asia and Australia.

Africa: Stuart Fletcher said: ‘It is with more than a little sadness that I announce that David Hampshire will retire from his current role as Managing Director, Diageo Africa, effective 1 October 2004. David has our gratitude for his significant contribution to our business. His outstanding career with Guinness and Diageo spans some 30 years. Under his leadership, our African business has been the backbone of Guinness brand growth and has delivered excellent overall growth to become our third largest market. The legacy platform which David has created is a significant asset for the development of our business in Africa going forward.’

Stuart Fletcher continued, ‘I am, however, delighted that Nick Blazquez, currently Managing Director, Asia Key Markets, will take up the role of Managing Director, Diageo Africa, effective 1 October. I am also extremely pleased that David has agreed to continue as Non Executive Chairman, Diageo Africa until May 2005. During the initial months in his new role, Nick will benefit from David’s experience, longstanding relationships and deep understanding of all things relating to Africa.’

David Hampshire joined Guinness in 1975 becoming Managing Director, Guinness Cameroun in 1981 and Regional Director, Africa, for Guinness Brewing Worldwide in 1988. David was a member of the Guinness executive from 1993 until the merger of Guinness and UDV in September 2000. He then took responsibility for our total premium drinks business in Africa.

Today Guinness is brewed in 24 countries in Africa and distributed in an additional 20. Our major brewing interests range from Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon in West Africa to East African Breweries in the East. Our spirits brands, led by Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, and Gordon’s, are marketed and distributed across the continent, with local production operations for certain brands located in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

Based in London as Managing Director, Diageo Africa, Nick Blazquez will continue to report to Stuart Fletcher. Nick’s experience within Diageo encompasses sales, marketing, production and general management. He joined our supply operations in 1989 and in the late 1990s held roles of increasing responsibility in United Distillers UK culminating as Commercial Director, Morgan Furze, UDV UK. In 2001, Nick moved to Bangkok to take up his current role in Asia where he has overseen our key market businesses in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Stuart Fletcher commented: ‘During his three years in Asia, Nick Blazquez has taken our Key Markets business in the region to a new level of capability, developing strong and effective relationships with our joint venture partners, integrating the Seagram spirits business in Korea, one of the world’s leading markets for Scotch whisky, and driving organic growth of our global and local priority brands.’

Asia: Effective 1 September 2004, John Pollaers, currently Managing Director, Diageo Australia, will become Managing Director, Asia Key Markets, based out of Sydney. In this role, John will oversee our business through the six IMCs: Diageo Japan, Diageo Moet Hennessy Japan, Diageo Korea, Guinness UDV Korea, Diageo Taiwan, and Riche Monde (Bangkok).

John Pollaers will be Non Executive Chairman, Diageo Australia until F05 at which point he will relinquish this position with Diageo Australia.

Commenting on the appointment, Stuart said, ‘Under John’s leadership over the past six years, Diageo Australia has an outstanding record of growth and capability development. Bundaberg is now the number-one spirit brand in Australia, Johnnie Walker and Baileys hold leading positions in their categories, our RTD brands have demonstrated consistent growth and we have established our leadership in innovation. Importantly, Diageo Australia has been voted employer of choice for three consecutive years.’

John Pollaers has some 13 years international experience in the drinks industry. He joined the company in 1990 and has held a variety of senior roles including Business Development Manager, United Distillers plc working on acquisition projects in Australia, UK and Latin America. In 1993, he was appointed Finance Director, United Distillers UK. In 1995, John became Channel Director Specialist Sector and the following year was appointed Customer Services Director, Australasia. In 1997, he became General Manager, South Pacific. In addition to his current role in Australia, John is Chairman, DSICA (Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia).

Australia: Effective 1 August 2004, Eleanor Craig, currently General Manager, Diageo Nordics moves to Sydney to become Managing Director, Diageo Australia. Eleanor will report to Stuart Fletcher.

In her current role, Eleanor oversees our alcohol beverage businesses in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Said Stuart, ‘The Nordics faces one of the most challenging external affairs environments in Europe. With Eleanor at the helm over the past two years, Diageo Nordics has transformed itself to become one of our fastest growing businesses. Eleanor’s move into Key Markets will also further facilitate sharing of great practices from Venture Markets; it’s great to have her coming on board and joining the Key Markets executive team.’

Eleanor Craig rejoined Diageo in January 2002, having previously worked with Seagram as Vice President Customer Development, Europe & Africa and before that with UDV as Business Support and Finance Director, UDV Eurasia. She also held senior finance and business development roles with GrandMet over a period of more than ten years.

Venture Markets: Andrew Morgan, President, Venture Markets has today announced that Jim Young, currently Finance and Commercial Director, Venture Markets will succeed Eleanor Craig, as Managing Director, Diageo Nordics, Venture Markets effective 1 August 2004.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Morgan said: ‘I am delighted that Jim will assume this new role. Jim is an experienced commercial manager who will bring great business acumen and energy to our organisation in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.’

Jim Young joined Diageo in 2001 in his current role. Prior to that he enjoyed a highly successful career in Seagram encompassing senior finance roles in the United States, Asia Pacific, and Europe & Africa as well as The Chivas & Glenlivet Group. As General Manager, Seagram Iberia from 1998 to 2001, Jim was responsible for Seagram’s highest performing business in Europe during that period and the dynamic growth of Cacique in Spain.

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo trades in some 180 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).


16 April, 2004