Jane Ewing takes over the reins at Diageo from Phil Humphreys

INTERNATIONAL. Jane Ewing has been appointed Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME), succeeding Phil Humphreys.

The appointment was revealed today by Diageo International President Stuart Fletcher. Ewing will take up her responsibilities on 26 July.

Fletcher said: “It is with great pleasure that I am announcing today Jane Ewing’s appointment as Managing Director of GTME.

I relish the challenge to lead the business through the next chapter of its growth
Jane Ewing
Managing Director
Diageo Global Travel & Middle East

“In her 18 years with Diageo, Jane has proven her ability to lead large, complex businesses to deliver great performance, through her commitment to customers, consumers and growing herself and her people.

“Jane already commands considerable respect within GTME for her leadership of the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region. She is now ready to step up to lead the whole of GTME, a role I know she will perform with a lot of energy.

“In addition, through her membership of the International Executive team, she will make a big impact across the whole of International.”

Jane Ewing said: “I am delighted to be taking over as managing director of GTME, particularly at such an exciting time for the business. GTME is an ambitious team of great people with a clear strategy and I relish the challenge to lead the business through the next chapter of its growth.”

Her successor as regional director for MENA will be the subject of a separate announcement.

COMMENT: This is a strong appointment by Stuart Fletcher, one that positions one of Diageo’s most respected senior executives in a hugely demanding and complex role that also ranks as one of the company’s most exciting challenges.

Phil Humphreys has left a powerful inheritance based on innovation, investment and creativity


Travel retail is arguably the ultimate showcase for the drinks powerhouse’s entire portfolio, not just upscale success stories such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label but also standard and deluxe lines. And of course it’s a huge volume generator and value creator in its own right.

Ewing has earned her stripes both at Diageo generally and within the diverse GTME operation in particular. Her 18 years with the group have taken in some daunting challenges and she’s about to embark on another.

Expect a very different but no less competitive style than Phil Humphreys. Expect her to be equally committed to the Trinity principles of greater understanding between industry stakeholders which Humphreys has so passionately espoused. And expect a major focus on strategy and what the company likes to call “˜breakthrough thinking’.

As an aside, it’s good to see a woman heading such a powerful entity within the channel. Due credit must go to Humphreys who has cultivated a strong Executive Board (including Ewing) that comprises 50% women, each selected purely on merit.

The departing Phil Humphreys will leave a powerful inheritance based on innovation, investment and creativity. Given that, and the calibre of his successor, the future of one of the channel’s key players looks to be in good hands.

Jane Ewing is understood to be determined to carry on Phil Humphreys’ ground-breaking work in bringing the industry “˜Trinity’ together, as seen here with DFS and JFK International Air Terminal during Diageo GTME’s recent experiential travel retail campaign for Tanqueray gin at New York JFK Airport Terminal 4


JANE EWING FACTFILE

Jane Ewing is currently Regional Director (General Manager) of Diageo GTME’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) business, a post she has held since April 2009.

She joined GTME from Diageo Europe, where she was general manager for the Eastern Europe hub, responsible for more than 30 country markets and for Diageo Guinness Continental Europe. Before that she was General Manager for Diageo Benelux.

Ewing joined Diageo in 1992, working initially in a number of sales and marketing roles. In 2003, she moved to Budapest to become General Manager for Hungary, Czech and Slovakia, before taking on the position of General Manager for Benelux.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business, controlling a diverse and powerful portfolio of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo trades in some 180 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information visit www.diageo.com

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