Diageo's new Indian CEO: 5 things you should know about Ivan Menezes

India-born Ivan Menezes was on Tuesday named as the next boss of Diageo - the world's biggestproducer of alcoholic drinks and the maker of popular JohnnieWalker whisky and Smirnoff vodka.

Fifty-four-year-old Menezes, the current Chief Operating Officer,will replace Paul Walsh as the Chief Executive Officer of the British company on 1 July.

Menezes an IIM-alumni

Menezes holds a BA degree in Economics from St Stephen'sCollege, Delhi and a PG Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He holds an MBA degree from Northwestern University Kellogs School of Management.

[caption id="attachment_759963" align="alignleft" width="380"] Ivan Menezes. Image: From Diageo website.[/caption]

He has worked with Nestle, Hamilton and Whirlpool in the past

He started his career with Nestle, India in 1981 and went on to work across a variety of sales, marketing and strategy roles with Nestl in Asia, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc. in North America and Whirlpool in Europe.

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He holds a number of non-executive positions, as well as roles in the British government's departments of business and energy. Currently, he is also a non-executive director of Coach Inc, a luxury goods company based in the US.

Menezes was appointed president, North America, in January 2004, having been chief operating officer, North America since July 2002. He was appointed chairman, Diageo Asia Pacific in October 2008 and chairman, Diageo Latin America and Caribbean in July 2011.

Played a key role in Diageo-United Spirits deal

He also played a key role in Diageo's $2.1 billion stake buy in Vijay Mallya's United Spirits. Although the deal, announced in November, has been dogged by regulatory delays and a second-stage open offer is unlikely to succeed, Diageo is expected to content itself with a stake of about 30 percent along with management control.

"Since joining Diageo in 1997, Menezes has held progressively senior management positions at Diageo North America and played a leadership role in streamlining Diageo North America's business processes while focusing on marketplace execution," notes a brief summary of a profileon Mendez by Businessweek.

Menezes has been the Chairman of Diageo Asia Pacific since 1 October, 2008 and of Latin America & Caribbean since June 2011. He has also been an Outside Director of Coach, Inc. since February 2005.

Mendez joins the likes of Indra Nooyi, Ajay Banga as Indian-origin chief executives of Fortune 500 companies

With his new role as the CEO of Diageo, he now joins the likes of Indra Nooyi, Ajay Banga and Rakesh Kapoor as Indian-origin chief executives of Fortune 500 companies.

Besides Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, Diageo's brandsinclude Crown Royal, JeB, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan,Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold inmore than 180 countries around the world. Diageo entered the Indian made foreign liquor segment with the launch of Rowson'sReserve, a premium IMFL whisky.