Diageo’s Newest Positions Affirm the Company’s Commitment to Building a Better Tomorrow

Dec. 21, 2018

 

Our partners at Diageo are committed to improving the communities where they do business, both locally and globally. They are leading the way on sustainability, gender equality, inclusivity, and a host of other fronts, and we are happy to announce they have recently added two new positions, and people, within the company to help their ongoing efforts succeed.

First, the company has appointed David Cutter to a newly created position as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), in addition to his current role as President of Global Supply and Procurement. Cutter has been with Diageo for 15 years, working with their global supply network, a key segment of the company’s 2020 Sustainability Plan.

“Across our diverse supply chain I see first-hand the positive impact our operations can have on the communities around them,” Cutter told The Drinks Business recently.

Cutter’s sentiment is already being put into practice in Africa, according to a recent story from Supply Chain Digital, reporting on an announcement from Diageo “reaffirming its commitment to African farming communities as it looks to source 80% of its raw materials locally by 2020.” According to the reporting Diageo will work with at least 100,000 farmers in eight countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, and Uganda.

At the same time, Diageo will work with the farmers to improve yields through sustainable farming techniques and provide access to stable markets in partnership with Syngenta, Bayer, Yara, World Food Program, and regional banks.

“We are a proud partner of farmers in Africa,” Cutter told Supply Chain Digital, “helping to create sustainable local businesses through our local raw material sourcing program. The wellbeing and vibrancy of the communities and our local suppliers we work with is our upmost priority. With 79% of raw materials sourced locally in Africa we are almost at our 80% target but remain restless to do more and this refreshed strategy will take us further along this journey.”

In addition to Cutter’s new role, Diageo is welcoming Kate Gibson to the team, starting in March 2019, as their first Director of Diageo in Society. She will lead a team responsible for ensuring that Diageo “plays a positive role in all the communities” that it operates in, according to The Drinks Business. Gibson’s current role is Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship, at InterContinental Hotels Group.

“Whether it is ensuring our sites have leading energy efficient technology, reducing fuel and water consumption or supporting our vast global family of farmers providing grains to our breweries and distilleries, this is a huge and significant role,” Gibson said. “I fervently believe in the significant contribution we can make and our commitment to do so.”

Share the good news with your customers and let them know that their purchases can go to support a company working hard to make the world a better place for us all. 

 
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