Diageo plc (LSE: DGE), the global beverages alcohol giant behind brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, and Don Julio, has announced a change in leadership of its Remuneration Committee, effective 6 November 2026. Non-executive director Melissa Bethell will assume the chairmanship of the committee, replacing Susan Kilsby in the role. The disclosure was made in accordance with UKLR 6.4.6R, the UK Listing Rules provision governing board committee changes. Investors monitoring Diageo's corporate governance structure will note that the transition does not result in a board departure, as Kilsby remains in several key roles.

Key Points

  • Diageo plc (DGE) — global beverages alcohol company listed on the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange (DEO)
  • Melissa Bethell, non-executive director, replaces Susan Kilsby as Chair of the Remuneration Committee from 6 November 2026
  • Susan Kilsby retains her position as Senior Independent Director and continues on the Audit, Nomination, and Remuneration Committees
  • Investors should watch for any subsequent changes to remuneration policy or executive pay disclosures under Bethell's chairmanship

Melissa Bethell Takes Remuneration Committee Chair Role at Diageo from 6 November 2026

The announcement, published on 5 November 2026, confirms that Melissa Bethell, who serves as a non-executive director of Diageo, will lead the Remuneration Committee from 6 November 2026. The change is disclosed under UKLR 6.4.6R, which requires listed companies to notify the market of such governance developments promptly. Diageo's Remuneration Committee is responsible for overseeing executive pay structures and broader remuneration policy at one of the world's most prominent spirits and beer businesses, whose brands are sold in nearly 180 countries.

Susan Kilsby Retains Senior Independent Director Status and Three Committee Memberships

Despite stepping down from the chairmanship of the Remuneration Committee, Susan Kilsby will continue to serve on the Diageo board in a significant capacity. The announcement confirms she remains Senior Independent Director — a role that carries particular responsibility for shareholder engagement and board accountability — and retains her membership of the Audit Committee, Nomination Committee, and Remuneration Committee. This continuity means Kilsby will continue contributing to governance oversight across multiple disciplines, maintaining a degree of institutional knowledge on the committee she formerly chaired.

Diageo's Global Brand Portfolio and Dual Stock Exchange Listing Provide Governance Context

Diageo describes itself as a global leader in beverage alcohol, with a portfolio spanning spirits and beer that includes Smirnoff, Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Cîroc, Tanqueray, and Buchanan's, alongside its flagship Guinness and Johnnie Walker brands. The company is dual-listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker DGE and on the New York Stock Exchange under DEO, meaning its governance disclosures are subject to scrutiny from both UK and US investor bases. Changes to committee leadership at this scale of operation draw attention from institutional shareholders focused on remuneration accountability.