Finance

Diageo has considered external candidates for CEO role, FT reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on November 8, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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Diageo has considered external candidates for CEO role, FT reports
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(Reuters) -Diageo, the world's top spirits maker, has considered external candidates to be its chief executive, including outgoing GSK CEO Emma Walmsley, the Financial Times reported on Saturday,

Diageo has considered external candidates for CEO role, FT reports

Diageo's CEO Search Process

(Reuters) -Diageo, the world's top spirits maker, has considered external candidates for its chief executive role including outgoing GSK CEO Emma Walmsley, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the situation.

Potential Candidates

Walmsley has not engaged with Diageo or its board on this matter and has "zero interest in the position," a person close to GSK told Reuters.

Current Leadership Situation

GSK declined to comment and Diageo did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Interim CEO Overview

In September, GSK said Walmsley would step down at the end of the year and be replaced by insider Luke Miels.

Investor Reactions

Interim Diageo CEO Nik Jhangiani stepped in after the abrupt exit of former CEO Debra Crew in July, after she struggled to win over investors following a bumpy start to her tenure.

Jhangiani previously said he expected a decision on a permanent replacement by the end of October, but the company did not provide an update when it cut its sales and profit forecasts on Thursday.

(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal, Preetika Parashuraman in Bengaluru, and Bhanvi Satija in London; Editing by William Mallard, Thomas Derpinghaus and Conor Humphries)

Key Takeaways

  • Diageo is considering external candidates for its CEO role.
  • Emma Walmsley, outgoing GSK CEO, was mentioned but is not interested.
  • Interim CEO Nik Jhangiani is leading Diageo temporarily.
  • Diageo has not updated on a permanent CEO decision.
  • The leadership change follows Debra Crew's exit in July.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is corporate governance?
Corporate governance refers to the systems, principles, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. It involves balancing the interests of various stakeholders, including shareholders, management, customers, suppliers, and the community.
What is an interim CEO?
An interim CEO is a temporary chief executive officer appointed to manage a company during a transition period, such as after a resignation or termination of the previous CEO, until a permanent replacement is found.

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