Diageo’s Ivan Menezes to step down as chief executive

The spirits giant has appointed Debra Crew as its first female chief executive following Mr Menezes’s retirement.

Spirits giant Diageo has appointed its first female chief executive after announcing the retirement of Sir Ivan Menezes after a decade in the top job (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

Multinational spirits giant Diageo has appointed its first female chief executive after announcing the retirement of Sir Ivan Menezes after a decade in the top job.

Debra Crew will step up from her current position as chief operating officer and lead the FTSE 100-listed business from July 1.

Mr Menezes joined Diageo, which owns brands including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness, when it formed in 1997 and has spent more than 25 years in senior positions.