Diageo Announces Changes to Finance Leadership Team: Vinod Rao appointed to combined role of Group Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations
Today, Diageo has announced changes to its finance leadership team. From 1st February 2019, Vinod Rao will take on the combined role of Group Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations, following Sharon Rolston’s move to Group Controller. Vinod and Sharon will begin the transition process immediately, with the formal handover at the start of February, after the publication of Diageo’s F19 Interim Results.
Vinod joined Diageo in 2013 as Finance Director for Asia Pacific, where he made a significant impact supporting the businesses across the region, including for a period as acting CFO for United Spirits Limited to support the integration with Diageo. In 2017, Vinod was appointed Group Treasurer, where he has actively led capital structure discussions, executed share buy-back programmes and been instrumental in the delivery of optimum financing costs for the company.
Prior to joining Diageo, Vinod spent 13 years with ICI in India, before going on to spend 14 years with PepsiCo in a diverse range of senior finance, business development and planning roles, across Asia and the Middle East.
Kathryn Mikells, Chief Financial Officer said, ‘I am delighted that Vinod will take on the combined role of Group Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations. Vinod brings a wealth of operational, market and global experience to the role and is a leader known for his passion for developing people and delivering performance. I am sure he will continue to build on the strong platform Sharon has built for investor relations and I would like to thank Sharon for her leadership of this area. I wish them both every success in their new roles.’