He was behind Johnnie Walker’s iconic marketing campaign ‘Preserve Strolling’
By:
Chandrashekar Bhat
SIR IVAN MENEZES, alcoholic drinks large Diageo’s long-serving Indian-origin chief govt, has handed after surgical procedure on a abdomen ulcer. He was 63.
His dying got here on Monday (5) along with his household at his aspect, the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka mentioned in an announcement, crediting him for shaping Diageo into one of many “most trusted and revered client corporations.”
He was accountable for growing Johnnie Walker’s iconic marketing campaign ‘Preserve Strolling’.
“That is an extremely unhappy day,” the corporate’s chairman Javier Ferrán, mentioned, including he was “undoubtedly one of many best leaders of his technology.”
Sir Ivan was resulting from depart from Diageo on June 30, having served the corporate as its CEO since 2013.
Born within the western Indian metropolis of Pune on 10 July 1959, he held UK and US citizenship and India’s abroad citizenship.
Having beforehand been the technique director for Guinness plc, he joined Diageo at its creation in 1997 and held many senior positions in a profession spanning over 25 years on the British firm.
He grew to become Diageo’s chief working officer and subsequently oversaw its operations within the Americas and the Asia Pacific.
Sir Ivan was appointed as the corporate’s govt director in 2012 and served because the CEO from July 2013 until this week.
Now promoting over 200 manufacturers in additional than 180 markets, Diageo is the primary firm by internet gross sales worth in Scotch whisky, vodka, gin, rum, Canadian whisky, liqueurs, and likewise tequila1.
Diageo produced greater than 10 million bottles of hand sanitiser for healthcare staff all over the world, together with the NHS, in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sir Ivan introduced the $100 million “Elevating the Bar” programme to assist pubs and bars all over the world reopen their doorways safely after lockdowns, offering sanitation, PPE, tools for safer outside socialising areas and employees coaching.
Earlier than his profession with Diageo, the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Administration Ahmedabad and Kellogg College of Administration labored for Whirlpool in Europe, Booz Allen & Hamilton in North America and Nestlé in Asia.
He was awarded a Knighthood in January 2023 for companies to enterprise and equality.
Sir Ivan is survived by his spouse, Shibani and his two youngsters – Nikhil and Rohini.
Diageo’s former chief working officer Debra Crew was appointed interim chief govt in the beginning of this week. She had been resulting from take over as CEO on a everlasting foundation from subsequent month following Sir Ivan’s deliberate retirement.
