The news, announced late yesterday (25 June), is a result of Schubert’s decision to “pursue the next chapter of her career”. Schubert will leave at the end of September, almost exactly a year after Diageo appointed Clif Bar & Co’s then-CEO, Sally Grimes, as CEO of the Diageo North America division.
Prior to Grimes’ arrival, Schubert, who replaced Diageo’s now-CEO, Debra Crew, as NA president in late-2022, sat on Diageo’s executive committee with Grimes assuming the board position when she filled the newly-created lead role in the region.
Details of what will happen with the president and COO roles for NA were not disclosed, although Global Drinks Intel understands there are no immediate plans to refill the positions.
“Claudia has made an enormous contribution to Diageo,” said Crew. “I want to thank Claudia for her dedication and extraordinary leadership, including her time helping steer North America through the unprecedented Covid pandemic and its aftermath.”
Schubert’s time with Diageo, which dates back to 2002, includes several roles in the US before she became GM of Continental Europe in 2015. Three years later, she returned to the country to become president of US spirits & Canada before taking up her current post in October 2022.
Having posted a flat set of sales numbers for the six months to the end of December earlier this year, Diageo will report its performance for fiscal 2024 – to the end of June – on 30 July.
