Diageo's Mairéad Nayager awarded for gender initiatives

Diageo Chief HR Officer Mairéad Nayager and CEO Ivan Menezes have been named on the HERoes Women Role Model Lists for improving gender equality and championing women in business.

Mairéad Nayager named as a Top 100 Women Executive

As the Executive member of Diageo responsible for the design and implementation of the company’s Inclusion and Diversity strategy, Mairéad has been instrumental in driving numerous gender diversity initiatives. Diageo’s 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' ten-year sustainability plan included the bold target of having 50% female representation across leadership positions by 2030. In addition, for the first time the organization’s Long Term Incentive Plan included gender diversity as one of its selected measures, ensuring every senior leader is incentivized to make progress on the D&I agenda. Under Mairéad’s leadership Diageo has also improved the balance of its executive leadership team: whilst eleven years ago, Diageo's Executive Committee was all men, it is now made up of 38% women.

Mairéad led the introduction of Menopause Guidelines, which offer strengthened support and flexibility and encourage all Diageo employees to build their understanding of how the menopause impacts individuals.

Diageo Chief Executive Ivan Menezes named a TOP 35 Advocate Executive

Since becoming Diageo’s Chief Executive in 2013, Ivan Menezes has championed Inclusion and Diversity across the whole of the organization, as well as the wider drinks and hospitality industry. As well as ambitious 2030 goals to increase the representation of women in Diageo leadership roles and the percentage of suppliers from female and minority-owned businesses, Diageo is also amongst the first companies to have created a clear link and direct accountability for ESG commitments with its senior management community.

In February 2021, Diageo announced 20% of the Diageo Long-term Incentive Plan will be linked to ESG measures, including Inclusion and Diversity, ensuring that every senior leader is incentivized to make progress on this agenda.

The firm has continued to empower women and to lean into taboo subjects: in March 2021 Global Menopause Guidelines were launched to offer strengthened support and flexibility and to encourage employees to build their understanding of how the menopause impacts individuals.