Diageo Global CMO Syl Saller Departs After More Than Two Decades

Diageo Global CMO Syl Saller Departs After More Than Two Decades
B&T Magazine
By B&T Magazine



Diageo’s global chief marketing officer Syl Saller is exiting the drinks business after twenty years.

Global category director, Scotch and reserve brands Cristina Diezhandino will move into the CMO position.

Saller has been with Diageo since 1999, starting as the marketing director across Britain before being named the global CMO of the drinks giant in 2013.

She will leave the company at the end of June and will be focusing on leadership development, executive coaching and other roles.

“Deciding to leave and embark on the next stage of my career is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. Diageo is the most incredible company, with people who are talented, committed, and passionate,” she said.

“My goal is to go out into the world and develop more of those people. I am very proud of what I’m leaving behind – a strong function that is committed to getting better by learning and growing themselves.”

Saller said Diezhandino as a “remarkable leader, driven by both performance and creativity”.

“Cristina has a deep understanding of brands, markets and operations and is widely respected, unflappable with deep compassion for others.”

Saller has been named on Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs list multiple years was known for pushing agency partners to improve their track record with hiring women for senior creative and director roles.

Diageo CEO Ivan Menzes said: “I have had the privilege to work closely with Syl over many years and we have enjoyed an amazing partnership.

“Syl has always held herself and colleagues to the highest standards while showing great empathy for our people and their success. We are all hugely grateful for her leadership impact in delivering Diageo’s performance and building our reputation as a world class consumer marketing company.

“Thanks to Syl, our pipeline of marketing talent has never been stronger, and I am delighted that Cristina will be our new CMO. Cristina has consistently shown herself to be a widely respected and resilient leader, able to build high performing teams across geographies and businesses and I look forward to continued brand growth under her leadership.”

 

 

 




Please login with linkedin to comment

Diageo syl saller

Latest News

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
  • Media

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm

Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
  • Advertising

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA  Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]