United Spirits names HT Media boss Praveen Someshwar as new CEO (updated)

United Spirits

13/01/2025 18:50

(Updates throughout, adds context on timing of transition)
       Jan 13 (Reuters) - United Spirits  UNSP.NS , the Indian
arm of liquor company Diageo  DGE.L , said on Monday that HT
Media boss Praveen Someshwar would join the company as managing
director and CEO, effective April 1.
        Someshwar will replace Hina Nagarajan, who after four
years at the helm, is set to transition into a role on Diageo's
global executive committee, the company said. 
    Someshwar has been CEO of HT Media  HTML.NS , the owner of
the Hindustan Times national daily, for five years. Prior to
that, he worked with PepsiCo  PEP.O  for 24 years, where he held
a number of senior roles in various divisions.
    The leadership change at United Spirits comes at a time when
Diageo and its Indian unit, have faced scrutiny from federal and
local investigative agencies due to allegations of suspicious
payments, and other irregularities, that pre-dated Nagarajan's
tenure at the helm of the company.
    United Spirits said Someshwar will join the company on March
1, and formally takeover from Nagarajan a month later following
the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

 (Reporting by Ananta Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Eileen
Soreng and Anil D'Silva)
 ((Ananta.agarwal@thomsonreuters.com;))