Debra Crew takes over as CEO of Diageo a month ahead of schedule

MADRID, 5 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The board of directors of British spirits giant Diageo, owner of Guinness, Johnny Walker, J

In a statement, the multinational announced on Monday the appointment of Crew as interim CEO with immediate effect, after Ivan Menezes is hospitalized receiving treatment for medical conditions that include a stomach ulcer.

"Over the weekend, we learned that Iván's recovery suffered a major setback due to complications, which followed emergency surgery on the ulcer," the company explained.

In this way, Diageo's new top executive will serve on an interim basis this month before her appointment as CEO and her incorporation to the board of directors on July 1, as the company had communicated at the end of last month. March. Also, as previously announced, Ivan Menezes will leave the board on June 30, 2023.

Menezes, 63, joined Diageo in 1997 as part of the merger between Guinness and Grand Metropolitan and has held the position of CEO of the multinational since July 2013.

In the case of Crew, until now Diageo's director of operations, a position she has held since October 2022, she was previously president of Diageo North America

Previously, Debra Crew was President and CEO of Reynolds American and before that she worked at companies such as PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, Nestlé and Mars.

Debra Crew's remuneration will include an annual salary of $1.75 million (1.62 million euros) and a pension contribution (or allowance in lieu) of 14% of base salary, plus an incentive plan bonus, deferral, a long-term incentive plan and shareholding requirements as CEO in accordance with Diageo's shareholder-approved remuneration policy.