Sally Grimes, who at one time served as the president of Tyson Foods’ Prepared Foods segment, has been named the CEO of Diageo North America.
Headquartered in London, Diego is a global company with alcoholic beverage products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. It has operations in Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia Pacific, Mexico and the Caribbean. Some of the company’s key brands are Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
“Sally’s appointment further strengthens our world class executive team at Diageo. Sally brings a significant depth of experience in the consumer goods sector in North America and has a proven ability to drive substantial growth in businesses,” said Diageo CEO Debra Crew.
At the same time Grimes was hired as the CEO of Diageo North America, Claudia Schubert was appointed president and chief operating officer. Both appointments are effective October 1.
Grimes joined Tyson Foods with the company’s acquisition of Hillshire Brands in 2014. At that time, she was chosen to lead Tyson’s innovations sales and global brand strategy teams, later being named president of Tyson’s North American Retail business and eventually selected to lead the Prepared Foods segment. Grimes announced her intent to resign from Tyson Foods in 2019, and in June 4, she accepted the role of CEO of Clif Bar.
Grimes also serves on the Beyond Meat Board of Directors.
Since Grimes departed as Tyson Foods’ president of Prepared Foods, multiple people have held that position. Noelle O’Mara succeeded Grimes in August 2019, but O’Mara left in September 2022 and Chief Financial Officer Stewart Glendinning was reassigned to the Prepared Meats position. Glendinning departed earlier this month, and although Tyson Foods did not make a formal announcement concerning Glendinning’s successor, a securities filing revealed that the role is now held by Melanie Boulden, who is also the company’s chief growth officer.
