JOHN KENNEDY
John Kennedy is President & CEO of Diageo Ireland, a leading market for Diageo Plc. Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks company.
John has held a variety of senior positions across the company over the last fourteen years. He led their Canadian business from 2006-2008. He ran the U.S. innovation team from 2002-2006, helping to generate over $700m in new sales across a wide range of new products. From 1999-2001 he was the Marketing Director for the group’s highly successful Australian business. He has led innovation and marketing efforts on a range of global brands including Smirnoff vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, Captain Morgan rum, Johnnie Walker scotch and Guinness stout. Currently he leads the business in Ireland where the country’s iconic brand, Guinness, is celebrating it’s 250th anniversary.
John previously worked in brand management roles for GlaxoSmithKline in London with responsibility for building the Lucozade sports drink brand and for Quaker Oats in Chicago working on Cap’n Crunch cereal and other brands.
John is an Economics graduate of Duke University. When he isn’t moving country he participates in the occasional triathlon.