USA (Commonwealth Union) _ Diageo, the beverage giant, has appointed Sally Grimes, an Indian-American, as the new Chief Executive for North America, effective from October 1, 2023. This decision comes shortly after the sudden death of the company’s group Chief Executive, Sir Ivan Menezes, who was also an Indian-American.
Sally Grimes, 53, most recently served as the CEO at Clif Bar & Company, a leading producer of organic energy bars in North America. Prior to this, she held the position of Group President of the Prepared Foods segment at Tyson Foods, the largest food company in America, where she oversaw a $10 billion, 25,000-person organization reporting to the Global CEO. Grimes began her career in banking and subsequently held multiple roles in large consumer goods companies, including Kraft Foods and Newell Brands.
In her new role, Grimes will report to Debra Crew, Chief Executive, and join the Diageo executive committee. Claudia Schubert has also been named President and Chief Operating Officer for North America.
Debra Crew, Chief Executive, expressed confidence in Grimes’ ability to drive substantial growth in the North American market and strengthen Diageo’s executive team.
Sally Grimes, originally named Shobana, grew up in Bourbonnais, near Chicago, and her parents were immigrants from India who arrived in the United States in the 1960s to pursue their education. She credits her deep appreciation for the significance of food to her mother, a dietitian focused on the science of food, and her empathetic nature to her parents’ welcoming and open-door approach to helping others—a trait often associated with immigrant culture
Grimes’ career journey began with crafting greeting cards and homemade cookies as a child, which she successfully sold to neighbours. Encouraged by her father, who worked as an administrator at a veterans hospital, she pursued a career in finance, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Her early career included a role as an associate brand manager at Kraft, where she worked on the iconic ‘blue box’ Kraft Macaroni & Cheese business. With her extensive experience and leadership, she is expected to contribute significantly to Diageo’s North American operations.
