Diageo India has announced the appointment of Praveen Someshwar as CEO-Designate. Hina Nagarajan, the current Managing Director and CEO of Diageo India will transition into another position after four years on Diageo’s Global Executive Committee.

Praveen will join the company on 1 March 2025 as CEO-designate and will take over from Hina Nagarajan as Managing Director and CEO of Diageo India and join the Diageo Executive Committee, effective 1 April 2025, the company shared.

For the last five years, Praveen has been MD and CEO of HT Media, leading multiple digital, print, and radio outlets including Hindustan Times, and Mint.

Before HT Media, Praveen had a 24-year career with PepsiCo, working in a variety of general management, finance, and strategy roles in India and the wider Asia Pacific region.

Diageo, Chief Executive, Debra Crew said, “Under Hina’s leadership, Diageo India has combined strong top-line growth and margin expansion with impactful strategic initiatives, reshaping and premiumising our portfolio and positioning Diageo India as an innovative leader in the AlcoBev industry. As she moves on to a new role within Diageo, she leaves a significant track record of success and a highly engaged, talented and diverse team.

Praveen joins us with an outstanding track record of leading consumer businesses, with a passion for both strategy and executional excellence that will serve us well as we plan for the next phase of Diageo India’s exciting growth story. I can’t wait to welcome him on board.

Hina Nagarajan began her stint as the CEO and MD of Diageo India in July 2021, after working as the managing director of the Africa regional markets (ARM) at Diageo.

“It has been a true privilege to lead Diageo India during a period of strong strategic progress and sustained, profitable double-digit growth for the business, with our market capitalisation growing to more than ₹1 trillion ($12.5 billion). I wish all my Diageo India colleagues ongoing success and look forward to supporting them as they continue their work in building this fantastic business under Praveen’s leadership,” Hina Nagarajan commented.