Diageo is switching out its India CEO with Hina Nagarajan set to be replaced by Praveen Someshwar.
After almost four years as head of Diageo India, a position that warrants a place on the group’s executive committee, Nagarajan will step aside at the start of April. Replacing her will be Someshwar (below), currently CEO of HT Media, which owns daily newspaper the Hindustan Times.
Details of where Nagarajan will move to were not disclosed, although the brand owner said she will take up “another position on Diageo’s global executive committee”.
Prior to joining HT Media in mid-2018, Someshwar spent 24 years with PepsiCo. Among his job titles with the soft drinks & snacks company were CFO for South Asia and CEO of India Foods before he took his last position in 2014 as the GM of North Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other islands.
“Under Hina’s leadership, Diageo India has combined strong top-line growth and margin expansion with impactful strategic initiatives, reshaping and premiumising our portfolio and positioning Diageo India as an innovative leader in the alcobev industry,” said Diageo CEO Debra Crew. “Praveen joins us with an outstanding track record of leading consumer businesses, with a passion for both strategy and executional excellence that will serve us well as we plan for the next phase of Diageo India’s exciting growth story.”
Formerly known as United Spirits, Diageo India is headquartered in Bengaluru in the southern state of Karnataka and oversees brands including Black Dog, Black & White and VAT 69 as well as its parent’s international spirits portfolio.
Diageo will publish its results for the second half of calendar 2024 on 4 February.
