Ivan Menezes was appointed Chief Executive of Diageo plc in July 2013. That was pretty good accomplishment in one’s life but, it pales in comparison to being appointed as a Knight in His Magesty the King’s 2023 New Year Hounours.
Menezes has been awarded a Knighthood for services to Business and to Equality for the work he has done at Diageo.
“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award on behalf of my 28,000 colleagues in Diageo. Their creativity, passion and drive has enabled Diageo, a British company, to become a truly global leader, making a positive contribution to the communities we serve. Everyone at Diageo is committed to shaping a more sustainable and inclusive business and society and I am very proud to accept this honour in recognition of what has been achieved so far,” said Menezes.
He is one of Britain’s longest serving Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Chief Executives and has transformed Diageo into the world’s leading premium drinks company, accounting for 10% (£2bn) of the UK’s total food and drinks exports. Diageo is one of the world’s leading companies on sustainability, receiving a Double A rating for Water Security and Climate Change and is committed to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030.
He champions for both women and the BAME community in British business and today, 42% of Diageo’s senior leadership positions globally are held by women, while 37% are ethnically diverse. In November 2020, he announced £1bn of investment in sustainability and community initiatives and to tackle alcohol related harm. He was Chairman of Movement to Work from 2017-20, a UK voluntary organisation committed to tackling youth unemployment delivering 100,000 structured work placements for young people, with over 55% of participants securing permanent jobs. He is also a member of the British-Asian Trust’s Founders Circle. During the pandemic, he produced more than 10 million bottles of hand sanitiser for healthcare workers around the world (including the NHS).
What is a Knight Bachelor (Kt)?
The appointment of Knight Bachelor (Kt) is a part of the British honours system… Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight (the rank existed during the 13th century reign of King Henry III), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of the various orders.
Who Gets this Honour?
Overview – The honours system recognises people who have:
- made achievements in public life
- committed themselves to serving and helping Britain
They’ll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal and J&B whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, Guinness, Balcones Distilling and Bulleit Distilling Co. Diageo products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
Other Notable Knights
- Master Distiller James Anderson McEwan: For services to the Scotch Whisky Industry and to the community in Islay (Islay, Argyll and Bute)
- Musician Ringo Starr
- Musician Paul McCartney
- Musician Elton John
- Singer Mick Jagger
- Actor Sean Connery
- Actor Roger Moore
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Learn more about Balcones Distilling.
Learn more about Bulleit Distilling Co.
Learn more about Stitzel-Weller Distillery.
Learn more about Diageo Lebanon Distillery.
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