Diageo North America Appoints Sally Grimes as new CEO

The largest alcobeverage company in the world, Diageo, has appointed Sally Grimes, a daughter of an Indian immigrant, to the position of chief executive officer for Diageo North America. She will begin performing her duties on October 1, 2023.

Sally has over 25 years of experience in the food and beverage sector, and most recently held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Clif Bar & Company, according to a Diageo press release. She will become a member of the company's executive committee and answer to Diageo CEO Debra Crew.

Sally was born in Bourbonnais, and her parents immigrated to the country from India in the 1960s. Sally's upbringing was significantly influenced by them. She graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor's in finance, and the University of Chicago awarded her an MBA.

Sally established herself as a global innovator and brand builder due to her more than 25 years of experience in the food and beverage sector. She is an ardent supporter of diversity and inclusion and is passionate about developing a successful culture. She most recently served as CEO of Clif Bar & Company, the largest manufacturer of organic energy bars in North America. She developed the company's mission there, oversaw the creation of a distinctive portfolio strategy, and ultimately oversaw the company's successful sale to Mondelez International.

As group president of Tyson Foods, the largest food company in America and a Prepared Foods segment, she oversaw a $10 billion, 25,000-person organization. Prior to holding various positions with well-known consumer goods companies like Kraft Foods and Newell Brands, she started her career in banking. She has extensive experience working as a non-executive director and has served on the boards of Beyond Meat, Inc., Continental Grain Company, and Silver Oak Winery.

She has received recognition for her outstanding work on Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business and Fortune's Most Powerful Women to Watch lists.

A North American Indian American woman also serves as the CEO of Diageo's rival, Pernod Richard, a top-tier international premium spirits company. Ann Mukherjee, the CEO of Pernod Richard North America, has extensive experience in marketing, sales, and general management and has worked for FMCG companies like Kraft Foods Group, PepsiCo, and S. C. Johnson & Son for 31 years. Before taking on the role of CEO of Pernod Richard North America in 2019, she held a number of senior positions across the globe, including those of President of Global Snacks & and Global Insights at PepsiCo and Global Chief Marketing Officer and Commercial Officer at SC Johnson.