DIAGEO ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP IN EUROPE AND AFRICA

Appointment of Charles Ireland as General Manager GB, Ireland and France

Diageo has announced changes to its senior leadership in Europe and Africa.

Charles Ireland, Managing Director, East Africa Breweries Ltd (EABL) is appointed to the new role of General Manager GB, Ireland and France, based in London and reporting to John Kennedy, President, Diageo Europe, Russia and Turkey. Andrew Cowan, currently Country Director GB, is appointed to the role of Managing Director, EABL, reporting to John O’Keeffe, President, Diageo Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.  Both Charles and Andrew will begin a month of transition to their new roles from 1 July 2016.

Charles Ireland has spent the last 13 years leading some of Diageo’s biggest businesses in both Asia Pacific and Africa.  Most recently in leading EABL, Charles has experienced a richly diverse business with teams across several East African countries and with a vital local importance economically and socially in the region.  Charles returns to Europe to lead the Diageo GB business in addition to leading Ireland and Diageo’s interests in France, together with Oliver Loomes, Country Director, Ireland and Frank Floc’hlay, CEO, MHD France.

Andrew Cowan has been Country Director for Diageo Great Britain since 2011. Andrew joined Diageo in 2008 as Commercial Director for Northern Ireland and was appointed to the role of Commercial Director in the Republic of Ireland in 2009 before taking over the Diageo GB business five years ago. Prior to joining Diageo, Andrew held a number of senior roles in the FMCG industry, including positions at GSK and Boots.

John Kennedy, President, Diageo Europe, Russia and Turkey, said:

“I would like to thank Charles and Andrew for the significant impact they have made on EABL and GB respectively. Charles has transformed EABL to be one of the best performing markets in Diageo and the fastest growing market for Guinness. Over the last few years, under Andrew’s leadership, Diageo GB has seen consistent top line growth, profit growth and sprits market share growth, and Guinness is also growing again with increased value share. Both are tremendous achievements and I congratulate them both on their new appointments.”    

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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