Dave is a proven CEO with extensive marketing and brand-building experience The Board of Directors of Diageo plc has appointed Sir Dave Lewis to the role of Chief Executive Officer…

Dave is a proven CEO with extensive marketing and brand-building experience

The Board of Directors of Diageo plc has appointed Sir Dave Lewis to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, effective on 1 January 2026.

Dave is a proven CEO with extensive marketing and brand-building experience. He has an outstanding track record leading global consumer businesses, growing world-class brands, and providing operational and financial rigour. Dave served as Group CEO of Tesco plc from 2014 to 2020, where he transformed the business and, before this, spent nearly three decades at Unilever, latterly in Executive Committee roles, leading on both marketing and business performance. Additionally, Dave has been the Chair of Haleon, a global leader in consumer healthcare, since its creation in 2022 and is a non-executive board director of PepsiCo Inc. Dave will be stepping down from the Haleon role on 31 December 2025.

Sir John Manzoni, Diageo’s Chair, who led the succession process on behalf of the board, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dave as Diageo’s new CEO. Having conducted an extensive global search, the Board unanimously felt that Dave has both the extensive CEO experience and the proven leadership skills in building and marketing world-leading brands, which is right for Diageo at this time.”

Manzoni continued: “We are confident that Dave will work with the team to take Diageo into its next successful chapter in the evolving consumer environment. The Board wishes to recognise and thank Nik Jhangiani for his excellent leadership as Interim CEO and for continuing to drive forward Diageo’s sharpened strategy.”

Sir Dave Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Diageo is a world-leading business with a portfolio of powerful brands, and I am delighted to be joining the team. The market faces headwinds, but it also offers significant opportunities. I look forward to working with the team to face these challenges and realise some of the opportunities in a way which creates shareholder value.”