Presidential appointments for Diageo

Diageo has announced three changes to the executive committee, with immediate effect.

Andrew Morgan has been appointed president, New Businesses. Morgan is to report to Ivan Menezes, chief operating officer.

John Kennedy has been appointed president, Diageo Western Europe. He is also to report to Menezes.

Meanwhile, Nick Blazquez has been appointed president, Diageo Africa, Russia & Turkey. The managing directors for those businesses, Galip Yorgancioglu and Stephen Morley, will report to Blazquez.

Paul Walsh, chief executive, Diageo, said: "The Diageo board and I have decided that our acquisitions will benefit from dedicated leadership of the integration process and consequently, we have appointed Andrew Morgan to the new position of president, New Businesses. In this role he will ensure that acquisition business cases are met or exceeded and that governance and compliance requirements are foremost in our implementation planning and execution. Our recent transactions in Brazil and Ethiopia, and our proposed transactions in India and South Africa will be managed under this governance model. I am delighted to have Andrew take on this critical role. He possesses immense transactional and integration experience having led, amongst other things, the integration of the Seagram acquisition in 2002. He has orchestrated the major expansion of our business in Turkey, Russia and Eastern Europe and the operating model change he instigated in Western Europe in 2011 has created a strong platform for the future of this market.

"John Kennedy will now take full responsibility for all countries and functions in Western Europe. John brings a wealth of experience to his position having held senior staff and general management positions in Australia, the United States, Canada and Ireland and most recently as Chief Operating Officer, Western Europe. He will not be replaced in his current role.

"Clustering our high growth markets in Africa and Europe under Nick Blazquez’s leadership will, I am sure, continue the impressive performance momentum we have in each of them.

"I believe that these appointments will further align the organisation behind the achievement of our growth aspirations and medium-term performance goals."