ivan menezes

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Ivan Menezes

CEO, Diageo

Last ranked: 19

The UK is Ivan Menezes’ safe place. Sales are booming: Smirnoff has added £34m in off-trade sales, premium brands such as Cîroc vodka are up a third, and the Guinness brand is growing again thanks to its well received craft imprint The Brewers Project. The bigger picture is less cheerful. Diageo’s global net sales for H2 2015 fell 5% or £300m. Along with well documented issues in the Far East, it lost share in the US (which accounts for 45% of its operating profits). But Menezes insists Diageo has turned the corner and is emerging as a “stronger, more competitive business” after pushing through extensive changes.

The Grocer's Power List 2016 reflects a sector in upheaval