0900 GMT- Diageo is among the most mentioned companies across news items over the past two hours after reporting the death of former Chief Executive Officer Ivan Menezes, according to Factiva data. Menezes, who has died after a short illness at the age of 63, had worked at the owner of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Guinness stout and Smirnoff vodka for more than 25 years, serving as CEO for the past decade. He had been due to retire on June 30. Menezes is credited with growing the drinks company significantly since he became CEO in July 2013, with Diageo now selling around 200 brands in more than 180 markets. Diageo Chairman Javier Ferran paid tribute to his former colleague, saying he built an extraordinary legacy. Menezes will be remembered for transforming Diageo's fortunes and making it the powerhouse it is today in the spirit sector, AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould says in a research note. "In his 10 years as chief executive, he focused on high-end brands, recognising that consumer tastes were evolving and that people were prepared to pay a premium price for a quality product," Mould says. Dow Jones & Co. owns Factiva. (joseph.hoppe@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 07, 2023 05:15 ET (09:15 GMT)

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