Diageo North America Names Catherine Jessup as CFO

Food & Beverage Close-Up, July 18, 2007

FOOD AND BEVERAGE CLOSE-UP-18 July 2007-Diageo North America Names Catherine Jessup as CFO(C)2007 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com

Diageo, a spirits, wine and beer company announced today that it has appointed Catherine Jessup as Chief Financial Officer for Diageo North America.

In the role, Jessup will lead Diageo North America's finance function effective August 14th. Jessup succeeds Deirdre Mahlan who was promoted to a global position within Diageo Plc.

For the past 12 years, Jessup has been responsible for accounting and control, planning and forecasting, tax, treasury, cash management, risk management and investor relations at The Topps Company, reporting directly to the CEO. During that time, she helped lead a turnaround of the business and played a major role in the financial restructuring of the company. She also formalized and expanded the planning and forecasting processes at Topps and managed the financial integration of a key acquisition.

Prior to joining The Topps Company, Jessup was with PepsiCo, Inc. for 13 years. During her time there, she served as Chief Financial Officer for PepsiCo Wines & Spirits, where she had full responsibility for the finance function of the spirits importing division.

Jessup will report to Nick Rose, and she will serve as a member of the Diageo North American Executive Team.

Diageo brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

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