Diageo named Benedetto Conversano as its chief information officer on 10 January 2020, with a planned start date of 15 May 2020. He was to lead a newly consolidated digital and technology function and report to Diageo CFO Kathy Mikells, according to contemporaneous reports by CIO.com and The Spirits Business.
Who did Diageo appoint as CIO?
Diageo appointed Benedetto Conversano, then Avon’s Chief Digital and Information Officer, to the CIO role. The announcement was reported on 10 January 2020; that is distinct from his planned first day at Diageo, 15 May 2020. Both CIO.com and The Spirits Business reported the appointment and dates.
What was the new function expected to do?
Diageo was creating a consolidated digital and technology function to bring the company’s technology elements together. The remit was described as providing end-to-end IT and business support, including data and analytics. The reports also said Conversano would report to CFO Kathy Mikells.
The appointment followed an organisational change described by CIO.com as occurring after Chief Productivity Officer Brian Franz’s departure in late 2019. The reports present the new function as a broader consolidation of technology responsibilities, rather than only a change in the CIO title.
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What was Conversano’s background?
Before the planned move to Diageo, Conversano had most recently served as Avon’s Chief Digital and Information Officer. The contemporaneous reports said he had more than 25 years of experience in fast-moving consumer goods and retail, including work with Procter & Gamble, Fater JV, IKEA, and Jeronimo Martins. They do not detail particular projects or outcomes from those roles.
What did Diageo and Conversano say?
The Spirits Business attributed this statement to Conversano: “It is an honour and a privilege to join a company like Diageo,”
The publication also quoted Mikells, identified as Diageo’s Chief Financial Officer, saying: “I am delighted to welcome Benedetto to Diageo as chief information officer,”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the appointment today?
This is a historical account of the 2020 appointment. The contemporaneous reports establish that Conversano was expected to start on 15 May 2020, but they do not establish his current role or subsequent career. The appointment should not be read as confirmation that he remains Diageo’s CIO.
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