Beverages
10 Diageo marketing leaders
These ten people hold or have held chief marketing officer, global brand director and marketing director roles at Diageo, across brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, Baileys and Captain Morgan. A reader can learn how Diageo builds its spirits and beer brands and runs global brand teams.
Professionals to explore
01—10Anna MacDonald
LinkedInExperience: Guinness Marketing Director (VP) · Diageo
Global Brand Director - Captain Morgan at Diageo since April 2025, and Guinness Marketing Director (VP) at Diageo from 2020 to 2025. Anna MacDonald was also Marketing and Innovation Director (VP) Global Travel (2017–2020) and Europe Marketing Director (VP) - Baileys (2014–2017) at Diageo.
Cristina Diezhandino
LinkedInExperience: Chief Marketing Officer · Diageo
Chief Marketing Officer at Diageo since July 2020. Cristina Diezhandino was also Global Category Director Scotch and Reserve Brands (2017–2020), Managing Director Global Reserve (2015–2017) and Marketing & Innovation Director Africa (2009–2012) at Diageo.
Grainne Wafer
LinkedInExperience: Global Category Director Beer, Vodka, Liqueurs and Convenience · Diageo
Global Category Director Guinness and Beer at Diageo since July 2026, and Global Category Director Beer, Vodka, Liqueurs and Convenience from 2024 to 2026. Grainne Wafer was also Global Director of Beer, Guinness.Smirnoff & Baileys at Diageo (2022–2024), and the profile lists membership of the Diageo Global Marketing Leadership Team.
Joanne Looby
LinkedInExperience: Guinness Global Marketing and Innovation Director · Diageo
Guinness Global Marketing and Innovation Director at Diageo since September 2025. Joanne Looby was also Global Marketing Director Johnnie Walker (2024–2025), Head of Beer, Diageo East African Breweries (2022–2025) and Guinness Global Marketing Director, Africa (2019–2022) at Diageo.
Julie Bramham
LinkedInExperience: Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker · Diageo
Former Global Brand Director, Johnnie Walker at Diageo (2020–2023), and Global Category Director Whisky & Luxury at Diageo since July 2026. Julie Bramham was also Global Luxury Managing Director (2023–2026) and Marketing Director, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan (2014–2016) at Diageo.
Neil Shah
LinkedInExperience: Global Brand Director (VP), Whiskey Portfolio · Diageo
Global Brand Director (VP), Whiskey Portfolio at Diageo since November 2023, a role the profile says leads the Global Whisk(e)y Portfolio business ($2.2B NSV, $327M A&P). Neil Shah was also Head of Guinness, GB (2020–2023) and Global Marketing Director, Smirnoff (2017–2020) at Diageo.
Ruud Bakker
LinkedInExperience: Global VP Marketing & Innovation Smirnoff · Diageo
Global VP Marketing & Innovation Smirnoff at Diageo, a title listed from 2015 with no end date. Ruud Bakker was also General Manager, Mexico at Red Bull (2013–2015) and Senior Regional Brand Director Heineken Heineken Americas at The HEINEKEN Company (2009–2010), and the profile describes growing market share and brand equity through launches.
Sarah Blake (Hogan)
LinkedInExperience: Global Brand Director, Baileys (SVP) · Diageo
Global Brand Director, Baileys (SVP) at Diageo since January 2024. Sarah Blake was Senior Global Marketing Director, Wall's Ice Cream (2018–2022) and Global Marketing Director, Wall's Ice Cream (2015–2018) at Unilever, and the profile describes marketing work on ice cream, food and beverage brands at local, regional and global level.
Stephanie Jacoby
LinkedInExperience: Global Brand Director (SVP), Vodka Category · Diageo
Global Brand Director (SVP), Vodka Category at Diageo since August 2024, described in the profile as global brand leader for the vodka business. Stephanie Jacoby was also Global Brand Director (SVP) Smirnoff (2022–2024), Vice President Innovation (2018–2022) and Vice President Brand Marketing, Johnnie Walker and Scotch Portfolio (2016–2018) at Diageo.
Syl Saller CBE
LinkedInExperience: Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Member, Executive Committee · Diageo
Former Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer and Executive Committee member at Diageo (2013–2020), where the profile says the role led all global marketing, digital transformation, design, innovation, R&D and Reserve, the luxury division. Syl Saller was also Global Innovation Director (2004–2013) and Marketing Director (1999–2004) at Diageo.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's brand and scope to your question, since a global brand director, a category director and a group marketing chief make different decisions. Check each person's dates and current role before relying on them for how Diageo markets today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does Diageo split brand decisions between global brand teams and market teams?
- 02How does Diageo decide how much to spend behind a brand relaunch or a new innovation?
- 03Which measures do Diageo marketing leaders use to judge whether a campaign has built the brand?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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