After 18 years with Diageo Andy Fennell, currently President, Diageo Africa and a member of the Executive Committee since 2008, is leaving Diageo at the end of the current fiscal year. John O''Keeffe, currently Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, is to be appointed President, Diageo Africa, joining the Diageo Executive from 1 July 2015 and reporting to Nick Blazquez, President Diageo Africa & Asia. In addition Diageo has today announced that Soren Lauridsen will be appointed Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria following a transition with Andy and John during May and June 2015.
Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive Diageo, commented;
"Andy Fennell has decided to leave Diageo after 18 successful years when he has been Global President for Smirnoff, Chief Marketing Officer and more recently President of our African business. We wish him every success as he reaches out for new challenges.
We have been able to ensure a smooth transition for both Diageo''s African business and for Guinness Nigeria. John O''Keeffe will bring marketing and general management experience to the Diageo Executive and his experience in innovation will be key as we look to increase our mainstream spirits business in Africa. Soren Lauridsen has already joined Diageo and will bring strong leadership skills to his new role in Guinness Nigeria from a career which has taken him from the Nordics to Asia and from Unilever to Carlsberg and now to Diageo. I look forward to working with them both to achieve our ambition."