Diageo appoints new GB general manager

Diageo has appointed Charles Ireland to the new role of general manager GB, Ireland and France in a swap in its senior team.

Charles Ireland moves to head up Diageo UK Ireland and France

Ireland was previously managing director of East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), and has been promoted to the new role after 13 years working across Diageo’s businesses in Africa and the Asia Pacific region.

The promotion will see him effectively swap roles with the Andrew Cowan, country director for Diago Great Britain since 2011, who will become managing director of EABL from 1 July.

Cowan has been in the role since 2011, having previously been commercial director in the Republic of Ireland and before that commercial director for Northern Ireland.

John Kennedy, president of Diageo Europe, Russia and Turkey, thanked both men for the “significant impact” they had made I their respective roles.

“Ireland has transformed EABL to be one of the best performing markets in Diageo and the fastest growing market for Guinness,” he said. “[And] over the last few years, under Andrew’s leadership, Diageo GB has seen consistent top line growth, profit growth and sprits market share growth, and Guinness is also growing again with increased value share.

“Both are tremendous achievements and I congratulate them both on their new appointments.”