Diageo CEO steps down following stock slump

Debra Crew's tenure has been punctuated by setbacks including a drop in sales on cooling demand in China and the US

Debra Crew pictured with then Taoiseach Simon Harris last year at the announcement of Diageo plans to invest over €100m to decarbonise its historic St James’s Gate site in Dublin 8 Pic: Naoise Culhane

Diageo Chief Executive Officer Debra Crew stepped down after a bruising run in which the company’s stock has plummeted.

The maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky said Wednesday Chief Financial Officer Nik Jhangiani had been appointed interim CEO, with a search already underway for Crew’s permanent replacement.