Diageo appoints Debra Crew as new chief operating officer

Diageo has announced changes to its leadership team, appointing Debra Crew as new chief operating officer and Claudia Schubert as the president of its North American division.

Both will take charge 1 October.

Crew is currently President, North America and Global Supply. As chief operating officer, she will take accountability for driving continued performance momentum across Diageo’s markets, brands and supply operations globally, and will continue to report to Ivan Menezes, chief executive.

Crew is the former president and CEO of Reynolds American, having previously served as president and chief operating officer, and president and chief commercial officer. Prior to that, she spent five years at PepsiCo, where she served as president, North America Nutrition; president, PepsiCo Americas Beverages; and president, Western Europe Region. Prior to PepsiCo, she held positions with Kraft Foods, Nestlé, and Mars. She currently serves on the board of Stanley Black & Decker.

With Debra’s appointment, Claudia Schubert is appointed President, North America, and will join the Diageo Executive Committee. She currently serves as President, US Spirits and Canada.

She brings 20 years of market and category experience at Diageo, having led the company’s Continental and Eastern Europe, US Wines and US Control States businesses. She began her career as a management consultant with Boston Consulting Group.

Ivan Menezes commented: “Diageo has a world class executive team with significant strength and depth of experience. Debra and Claudia have proven track records as outstanding leaders inside and outside our company. Their appointments will ensure that we continue to adapt to the changing environment so that we can deliver our performance ambition while making a positive impact wherever we work, source and sell.

“I am excited to work more closely with Debra in her new role, and with Claudia as she joins the Executive Committee, as together we continue to build momentum and deliver long-term sustainable growth and value creation for all our stakeholders.”