E-Malt.com News article: India: Diageo’s United Spirits appoints new CEO

Diageo-controlled liquor maker United Spirits Ltd on Monday (January 13) announced a leadership transition as part of its CEO succession plan. After serving as Managing Director and CEO for four successful years, Hina Nagarajan will step down effective March 31, 2025, to take on a new role within the Diageo Group.

The board has appointed Praveen Someshwar as Chief Executive Officer-Designate, effective March 1, 2025. He will work closely with Nagarajan to ensure a smooth transition. Someshwar will formally assume the roles of Managing Director and CEO from April 1, 2025, subject to regulatory and statutory approvals.

Nagarajan joined the Company as CEO – Designate in April 2021 and took over as MD and CEO effective July 1, 2021. Under her leadership, the Company has combined strong top-line growth and margin expansion with impactful strategic initiatives, reshaping and premiumising our portfolio and positioning the Company as an innovative leader in the AlcoBev industry.

For the last five years, Someshwar has been MD and CEO of HT Media Ltd. where he leads multiple digital, print and radio outlets including India’s second-largest newspaper, Hindustan Times, the leading financial news outlet Mint, and several radio outlets.

Before HT Media, he had a highly successful 24-year career with PepsiCo, working in a variety of General Management, Finance, and Strategy roles in India and the wider Asia Pacific region. In 2009 he was appointed CEO of PepsiCo’s South Asia beverage business, and in 2012 moved on to become CEO of PepsiCo India’s foods business.

From 2014-2018 he was SVP and General Manager for PepsiCo for North Asia and parts of SE Asia, based in Hong Kong, leading a portfolio of markets as well as leading the sales function for Pepsi’s wider Asia Pacific region. He has a B.Com (Hons.) from Delhi University and Chartered Accountant as well as a Cost & Management Accountant by qualification.



14 January, 2025