Diageo Announces Changes to Finance Leadership Team

Today, Diageo has announced changes to its finance leadership team. From 1 October 2020, Vinod Rao will take on the combined role of Group Treasurer and Head of Global Audit and Risk, and Lavanya Chandrashekar, Chief Financial Officer Diageo North America, will add to her existing responsibilities by taking over the leadership of Group Investor Relations. Vinod and Lavanya will begin the transition process immediately, with a formal handover at the start of October, after Diageo’s AGM.

Lavanya joined Diageo in 2018, following a successful career in global and regional finance and strategy roles at Procter & Gamble and Mondelez International. Over the last two years, Lavanya has brought her significant business insights and leadership to our North America business, re-shaping our finance function to support the growth of our most important market. This additional global accountability will bring our investor relations agenda closer to Diageo’s largest market, where approximately half of our investor base is located.

Kathryn Mikells, Chief Financial Officer, Diageo commented: ‘I am delighted Vinod will take on the combined role of Group Treasurer and Head of Global Audit and Risk. Vinod brings a wealth of operational, market and global experience to this new role and I would like to thank him for his strong leadership of investor relations. Lavanya’s presence in North America will enable us to continue to build on this platform. I wish them both every success in their new roles.’