Diageo’s CEO Sir Ivan Menezes passes away after brief illness

Diageo has announced that long-time boss Sir Ivan Menezes has passed away aged 63 following a brief illness.

The announcement comes after the spirit giant said on Monday that CEO-designate Debra Crew would immediately assume the position of chief executive on an interim basis as Menezes was under medical treatment for conditions including a stomach ulcer.

Diageo confirmed the announcement in a social post:

pic.twitter.com/oKzmg6wNws

— Diageo News (@Diageo_News) June 7, 2023

British-American national Menezes, who was born in the Indian city of Pune, joined Diageo after its formation through the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997.

Diageo’s chairman, Javier Ferrán, made the following statement:

“This is an incredibly sad day. Ivan was undoubtedly one of the finest leaders of his generation.

Ivan was there at the creation of Diageo and, over 25 years, shaped Diageo to become one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer companies. I saw first-hand his steadfast commitment to our people and to creating a culture that enabled everyone to thrive. He invested his time and energy in people at every level of the company and saw potential that others may have overlooked. This is one of many reasons why he was beloved by our employees, past and present.

Ivan’s energy and his commitment to diversity created a truly inclusive business and enabled Diageo to have a positive impact on the communities we serve. His passion for our brands was second-to-none, and in his heart, he remained the Johnnie Walker marketer from his early days. The desire to build the world’s best brands never left him.

We are truly privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside such a thoughtful and passionate colleague and friend – a true gentleman. He has built an extraordinary legacy.

Ivan leaves behind many friends, and a beloved family, and our thoughts are particularly with his wife, Shibani and his two children, Nikhil and Rohini. On behalf of the board, executive committee and all our employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to them.”

Menezes emphasised the company’s responsibility to promote responsible drinking and address alcohol misuse, recognising Diageo’s position to make a positive impact. “We have a duty to promote responsible drinking, and tackle alcohol misuse, and we’re in a unique position to do so.” 

During his tenure as chair of the IARD CEO Group, Menezes played a pivotal role in the implementation of the five-year Producers’ Commitments programme in 2017. He revealed that 97% of contracts for all advertising agencies were required to adhere to responsible alcohol advertising codes. Additionally, he set out notable advancements in drink-driving prevention programmes, campaigns against underage drinking and responsible retailing initiatives that were deployed globally.

Menezes was appointed to Diageo’s board as an executive director in 2012 and served as CEO from July 2013. In March, the company announced Menezes’ plans to retire on 30 June 2023.

All of us in the FoodBev team offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ivan’s family and colleagues, following the shock of this sad news.