Diageo appoints Debra Crew as its first female chief executive

Former chief operating officer to be one of fewer than 10 women leading FTSE 100 companies

The world’s biggest spirits maker, Diageo, has appointed Debra Crew as chief executive, making her one of only a handful of women to lead a FTSE 100 company.

The company, which makes well-known brands including Johnnie Walker scotch whisky, Guinness and Baileys, announced that Sir Ivan Menezes would step down on 30 June after 10 years as chief executive. It decided to promote Crew from chief operating officer to the top job, effective from 1 July.