Diageo's Claudia Schubert named Industry Executive of the Year

Photo credit: Jonathan Smith for Shanken

Diageo women make an impact and are recognized for their impressive achievements, with Diageo North America President & Chief Operating Officer, Claudia Schubert, having been awarded the Industry Executive of the Year by Shanken’s Market Watch.

"The honor is the top industry award in wine and spirits, and Claudia is the first woman to win this award," shared Diageo.

"With more than 20 years in the drinks' industry, Claudia has held a series of leadership roles at Diageo both in the U.S. and internationally, overseeing growth for a formidable portfolio of brands including Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Don Julio among many others. Today, she is at the top echelon of management for Diageo’s North American sector," shares Shanken News Daily.

Helping drive company ambition

As President of Diageo North America, Claudia oversees the largest and most profitable market for the global beverage alcohol leader and is helping drive the company’s ambition to be one of the most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world.

Claudia served as President of U.S. Spirits & Canada for Diageo North America, where she led the growth of Diageo’s Canadian business, and spirits portfolio in the U.S., inclusive of iconic brands such as Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Don Julio. Under her leadership and direction, Diageo North America significantly increased its investment in advancing analytics and technology capabilities. The investments led to better understanding consumers’ ever evolving preferences and helped Diageo create exceptional marketing programs and deliver product innovations to drive greater sales force effectiveness.

Engaging, retaining and growing female talent

In addition to her role, Claudia was the proud executive sponsor for Diageo North America’s Business Resource Group chapter of the Spirited Women’s Network for several years whose purpose is to engage, retain and grow female talent.

With more than 20 years in the drinks' industry, Claudia is known for her commercial and strategic thinking, as well as the ability to transform businesses and lead change across an entire organization. She has extensive multi-market experience – having led Diageo Continental Europe, Russia & Eastern Europe, a spirits and beer business made up of 20 countries.

In addition to her diverse career at Diageo, Claudia previously worked in management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group. Her academic qualifications include an undergraduate degree in Financial Accounting and Taxation from the Technical University in Dresden, Germany, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Claudia grew up in the East German city of Dresden, in the northern wine-growing region of Saxony. Currently based at Diageo’s North America headquarters in New York, she lives in New Jersey with her husband, Brad.