Diageo has appointed former UK civil service chief Sir John Manzoni as its new chair, as the alcohol giant attempts to recover from a challenging year.
Manzoni joined Diageo’s board as a non-executive director in 2020 and has previously held roles including non-executive director of drinks company SABMiller.
He said: “Diageo has an unrivalled portfolio, a global footprint and world-leading capabilities, and I look forward to supporting the executive team to ensure that we deliver on our potential.”
Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning
Manzoni will replace current chair Javier Ferrán who will retire in February 2025 after 7 years of holding the position. Ferrán previously led rival drinks FMCG Bacardi.
Ferrán added: “It has been a true privilege to lead Diageo’s board during a period in which we have achieved significant growth, reshaped our portfolio and geographic footprint, and navigated widespread global volatility.”
The board change comes amid a difficult year for the drink giant. Earlier this year, its shares plummeting to its lowest level in four years after a “materially weaker” sales performance in its beer portfolio and in locations such as the Caribbean and Latin America.
Diageo have hired bankers at the Rothschild in a bid to explore the sale of a trio of non-core brands, including Pimm’s.
