Paul Downing joins as regional director for Europe, as successor to Olaf Grewe who moves into a project role as sales and operations director.

Downing was previously with Diageo’s UK business where he has performed a number of roles including sales director. Prior to Diageo he worked for Pepsico.

Gregorio Gutierrez has been appointed regional director for the Americas, as Geoff Biggs' successor. According to Diageo, he will “further drive the strategic thinking behind GTME’s strategy for the Americas".

Gutierrez joined Diageo in 2006 with responsibility for ‘strategy, business development and change management’ in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to Diageo, he worked with Multiflora Corp. and McKinsey & Co.

Marwan Badri has been appointed regional director for Diageo Middle East and North Africa (MENA) taking on Jane Ewing’s previous role.

As general manager for three years, Badri led the Levant market (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq) for MENA.

Under the leadership of Badri, the MENA team has promoted Hugo Mills to general manager gulf, and Tony Amine to temporary general manager Levant.

Jane Ewing, managing director of Diageo GTME said: “These senior appointments will certainly be powerful drivers of our performance and I am confident that Paul, Gregorio and Marwan will lead their regions to further success.”