Wikipedia

Ivan Menezes

Sir Ivan Manuel Menezes (10 July 1959 – 6 June 2023) was an Indian-born British-American business executive. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Diageo, a FTSE 100 British multinational alcoholic beverages company, from 2013 until his death in 2023, succeeding Paul S. Walsh.[1]

Sir
Ivan Menezes
Menezes in 2014
Born
Ivan Manuel Menezes

(1959-07-10)10 July 1959
Poona, Bombay State, India
Died6 June 2023(2023-06-06) (aged 63)
London, England
Nationality
  • American
  • British
Alma mater
TitleCEO of Diageo
Term2013–2023
Children2
FatherManuel Menezes
Relatives

Early life

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Menezes was born in Poona, India, on 10 July 1959, to Nina and Manuel Menezes.[2][3] His mother, Nina, was a French language and music teacher, while his father, Manuel, was the chairman of the Indian Railway Board.[4][5] The family was from Pomburpa village in Goa.[6] His brother Victor Menezes was the former senior vice-chairman and CFO of Citibank.[2][7][8]

Menezes completed his schooling from St. Mary's High School, Mt. Abu, where he graduated as a topper in the Indian school certificate examination. He went on to complete his bachelors in economics and mathematics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and followed it with a post-graduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He later obtained an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.[8][9][10]

Career

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Menezes joined Diageo in 1997 and held various senior positions, including chief operating officer; chairman; Latin America & the Caribbean; chairman, Asia Pacific; president and CEO, Diageo North America; and chief operating officer, Diageo North America before becoming its global CEO.[3]

Menezes joined Diageo from Guinness, when the company merged with Grand Metropolitan in 1997 to form Diageo.[11] As the marketing head at Diageo, he is credited for developing the Keep Walking! marketing campaign for Johnnie Walker.[12] As the CEO, he was credited for building the company to its current position owning over 200 brands in over 180 countries, including driving acquisitions of brands including Don Papa, a Philippine rum, Don Julio and Casamigos tequila brands.[13] During his time as the CEO, the market value of the company grew from £42B to £75B.[11] During this time, he led the company to sell most of its wines business and its low-margin mass-market beers and shift its focus toward premium brands like Guinness and spirits like Johnnie Walker.[14][8]

Menezes was a non-executive director of the US-based fashion retailer Coach, Inc. and the chair of the Scotch Whisky Association.[3][14]

Menezes was knighted in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to business and equality.[15] During his tenure at Diageo, Menezes strove for diversifying its leadership, making more than 40% of Diageo's senior leadership positions held by women.[16] He held dual UK and United States citizenship. He was also an overseas citizen of India.[11]

Personal life

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Menezes was married to Shibani Menezes, a journalist. The couple had met while studying at St. Stephen's College in Delhi.[8][13] The couple had two children,[3] Nikhil and Rohini.[16] He was known to be a cricket and theatre lover.[14]

Menezes died from complications of stomach ulcer surgery on 7 June 2023 in London, at age 63.[12][6]

References

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  1. ^ "New Diageo chief Ivan Menezes to focus on emerging markets". The Daily Telegraph. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Indian to head world's top liquor co". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Murray, Felicity (7 May 2013). "Ivan Menezes appointed CEO of Diageo". The Drinks Report. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Ivan Manuel Menezes (KSM '85)". Kellogg School of Management. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  5. ^ "I am Goan". oHeraldo. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b "In today's ruthless corporate world, Sir Ivan Menezes stood out for channeling his inner Gandalf". Moneycontrol. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. ^ Livemint (7 June 2023). "Ivan Menezes no more: All you need to know about the Indian-born CEO of Diageo". mint. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "Sir Ivan Menezes, former Diageo chief executive, dies aged 63". The Times. 13 June 2023. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes 'undoubtedly one of the finest leaders of his generation' who combined business acumen with 'humility and kindness'". Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Diageo's Indian-origin CEO Ivan Menezes to get up to Rs. 105-cr pay package". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Sweney, Mark (7 June 2023). "Diageo boss Ivan Menezes dies aged 63 after short illness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes passes away". Reuters. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Sir Ivan Menezes: Boss of Guinness maker Diageo dies at 63". BBC News. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Speed, Madeleine (7 June 2023). "Ivan Menezes, businessman, 1959–2023". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N2.
  16. ^ a b "Ivan Menezes, India-born CEO of Diageo, passes away at 63". The Economic Times. 7 June 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
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