Date:17/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/17/stories/2005051701750400.htm

Back Diageo gets new head to steer India operations

Our Bureau

Bangalore, May 16

DIAGEO India Pvt Ltd, formerly UDV and the domestic arm of the global drinks giant Diageo Plc, is seeing a churn at the top with Mr Ravi Rajagopal replacing Mr Amar Raj Singh as the Managing Director.

Mr Singh was catapulted to head UDV India Ltd's's local operations (along with business in rest of the South Asian markets) in late 2002 when the company sold its Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) assets, including its largest volume brand, Gilbey's Green Label Whisky, to Mr Deepak Roy, who spearheaded the multinational's affairs in the country till then.

The company, after being stripped off its IMFL business, has been focused on building its portfolio of international brands led by brands such as Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker Whisky in the domestic market.

Incidentally, the change of guard comes at a time when the company is coming out of a `Scotchgate' scandal that rocked the corridors of ITDC and Tourism Ministry earlier this year, and impacted the availability of Johnnie Walker's Black Label and Red Label variants in government-run duty free shops.

However, Mr Rajagopal, who has been part of Diageo's international system, assumes charge when the market for the international spirits brands in the country is expanding faster with Scotch whisky consumption pegged at 7-8 lakh cases annually reporting between 10 and 12 per cent growth.