Diageo has resurrected its chief operating officer position, nine years after the previous incumbent moved up to become CEO.
Debra Crew, the current president for North America & global supply, has been lined up to fill the role at the start of October. Crew, who will be charged with “driving continued performance momentum across Diageo’s markets, brands and supply operations globally”, will report in to CEO Ivan Menezes. In July 2013, Menezes vacated the COO position to replace Paul Walsh as CEO.

A non-executive board director for 15 months, Crew gave up the role two years ago to head up operations in North America. Replacing her will be Claudia Schubert, the president for US spirits & Canada. Schubert started with Diageo in a marketing position in 2002.
Earlier this month, another senior executive switch saw Mark Sandys, the global head of beer, Baileys, Smirnoff & Captain Morgan, replace Michael Ward as chief innovation officer.
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