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Bagley steps into the leadership role with almost 25 years of experience in consumer-facing business, and having held big posts in one of Diageo’s key regions |
INTERNATIONAL. Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME) has announced a change of leadership as former Managing Director Roland Abella steps down from the post to return to his family in Lebanon.
He will be succeeded by Doug Bagley, former Commercial Director of Diageo Asia Pacific, who becomes Chief Operating Officer GTME with immediate effect and will take on the Managing Director role from 1 October.
President Diageo Asia Pacific Gilbert Ghostine said: “Doug has a diverse background in working with customers around the world and in improving the capability of our sales force, and is relentless in demanding high execution standards. I am confident that under his leadership, GTME will continue to strengthen its reputation for being first in innovation, in luxury and in creating the best retail experiences around the world.
“Since joining GTME in 2012 Roland has grown our net sales through the introduction of travel retail exclusives such as the Johnnie Walker Explorers’ Club Collection and has set GTME on an improved trajectory for accelerated growth. His presence and leadership will be sorely missed.”
Bagley began his career with Diageo as General Manager, Greater China, in 2009 before being appointed to the role of Commercial Director for Australia. Last year, he joined the Asia Pacific executive team in his current role. He has almost 25 years of experience in consumer-facing businesses and was in senior roles with Unilever globally before joining Diageo.
COMMENT: Abella has made a big impact in a short time in travel retail, spearheading Diageo’s strategy of premiumisation through differentiation in the channel. The phenomenal success of the company’s purest representation of that strategy to date, the Johnnie Walker Explorers’ Club Collection – with over 1 million bottles sold in its first eight months – is a fine legacy.
Abella has been an outspoken critic of the entrenched, margin-dominated approach of the traditional airport retail model – notably at a memorable presentation at The Trinity Forum 2013 in January – and has made big strides to set Diageo on a different course. We wish him well as he begins the next stage of his journey.
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Abella: a big impact in a short time as Diageo Managing Director GTME |
