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December 11, 2020 12:44:13 pm
Hina Nagarajan. (Image Source: LinkedIn / Hina Nagarajan)
United Spirits Ltd (USL), part of global spirits giant Diageo, on Thursday appointed Hina Nagarajan as the company’s new CEO with effect from July 1, 2021.
The incumbent Anand Kripalu will step down on June 30.
Nagarajan is currently the managing director of Africa Regional Markets (ARM) at Diageo and will join USL as CEO-Appointed effective April 1, the company said, adding that she will formally take over on July 1 and become a member of Diageo. Executive committee.
She will report to John Kennedy, President of Diageo Europe and India. Nagarajan will be based in Bengaluru and will work closely with Kripalu to ensure a smooth transition, the company said.
In his current role, he leads Diageo’s WARC which comprises operations in Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Indian Ocean, Angola, and several other countries.
Before joining Diageo, he was MD China and Senior Vice President North Asia with RB (Reckitt Benckiser). He has over 30 years of experience and has held various senior marketing and general management positions at Nestlé India and Mary Kay India.
Kripalu, who joined United Spirits nearly eight years ago and served as managing director and CEO for seven years, will step down on June 30, 2021 to continue the next phase of his career, he said.
He had led the full integration of USL after its acquisition by Diageo and played a key role in achieving a significant improvement in USL’s operating performance (margin growth, working capital and cash generation), he said.
One of her key contributions was joining the USL executive team with 40% women.
USL manufactures, sells and distributes an outstanding portfolio of premium brands such as Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No.1, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan.
Based in Bengaluru, USL operates 49 manufacturing plants in India.
Diageo had announced a multi-structured deal in 2012 to acquire a majority stake in USL, which was then led by Vijay Mallya, for Rs 11,166.5 crore.
