Paul Walsh Bio

Paul Walsh was the CEO of Diageo from 2000 to 2013. During Paul’s leadership, Diageo’s market cap grew from £16.1bn to £49.6 billion and with his team, he created over £55 billion of shareholder value. He masterminded the strategic transition from conglomerate (following merger of Guinness and Grand Met), to Diageo becoming the world’s largest and most profitable beverage alcohol company, operating in 180 markets, with 22,000 employees. His major transactions include the acquisition and integration of Seagram ($8.1bn), as well as the disposal of Pillsbury ($10.1bn) and Burger King ($2.1bn). Prior to Diageo, Paul was CEO (1992-1999) and COO (1989-1992) of The Pillsbury Company, where he led the hostile takeover of the company on behalf of Grand Met ($5.7bn), doubled operating margins, tripled return on capital, and acquired PET Inc ($1.7bn). At Intercontinental Hotels Corp Inc, as CFO and Chief Development Officer between 1987 and 1989, Paul improved profitability, and prepared and managed the sale of the company by Grand Met ($2.3bn) to Saison Group. As Finance Director of Watney Mann Brewers (Grand Met), he streamlined the Finance function and divested non-core assets. Paul currently holds numerous positions including Chairman of Compass Group Plc, Non-Executive Director of FedEx Corporation, Non-Executive Director of McDonald's Corporation, Chairman of Chime Communications Limited, Chairman of Avanti Communications Group Plc, Non-Executive Director of RM2 International SA, Advisor to TPG Europe LLP, Advisor to Simpsons Malt Limited, Council Member of the Scotch Whisky Association, Business Ambassador for the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Chairman of the Henley Business School Strategy Board, Member of the University of Reading’s Council and Member of Board of Trustees of the International Business Leaders Forum. He was previously Non-Executive Director of Centrica Plc, Non-Executive Director of HSBC, Non-Executive Director of Unilever and Chairman of Scotch Whisky Association.