Diageo's Debra Crew becomes highest profile female CEO in Britain and Ireland

A former boss of tobacco company Reynolds American, Debra Crew is expected to embrace Ivan Menezes’ legacy and ride the wave of consumers switching to expensive spirits from beer and wine. Picture: Diageo

Guinness and spirits maker Diageo named former tobacco boss Debra Crew to succeed Ivan Menezes as chief executive and become the highest-profile female executive in Britain and Ireland. 

Ms Crew, 52, will make the leap from her current role of chief operating officer, after Mr Menezes retires following a decade at the helm of the distiller of Baileys, Smirnoff and Black Label whisky.