Diageo Sharpens Focus On Emerging Markets With Changes To Its Leadership Team

With an eye toward sharpening its focus on China and India, Diageo has made changes to its international leadership team.

Gilbert Ghostine, who has been president of Diageo Asia-Pacific for the past five years, will now concentrate his regional focus on China and India. His new title is president, Diageo India and China, and chief corporate development officer. In that newly created corporate development role, Ghostine will be responsible for the company’s business development. He’ll also oversee Diageo’s relationship with Moët Hennessy (in which it owns a 34% stake).

Meanwhile, Nick Blazquez, who’s currently president of Diageo Africa, Turkey, Russia, Central & Eastern Europe and global sales, will assume additional responsibility for the rest of Asia, as well as Australia, global travel retail and the Middle East. Blazquez’s new title will be president, Diageo Africa, Eurasia and Pacific.

Additionally David Cutter has been tapped to replace David Gosnell as head of global supply and procurement when Gosnell retires at the end of the fiscal year. Gosnell will report to Diageo CFO Deirdre Mahlan, whereas Cutter reported to Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes.

These changes, which take effect July 1, are part of Menezes’s efficiency program. Menezes—who assumed the CEO role on July 1, 2013—is aiming to accrue savings of £200 million annually by fiscal 2016-2017.

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