Hina Nagarajan- Diageo President, Global FMCG Executive, and Diversity Champion

Heena Nagarajan is a prominent business leader and current President-Designate of Diageo Africa, effective April 1, 2025. A key member of the Executive Committee at Diageo Plc. She brings rich experience from her previous leadership role as Managing Director of Africa Emerging Markets and her impactful four-year tenure as MD & CEO of Diageo India. Heena Nagarajan’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in equity, inclusion, and empowerment. Her efforts have earned her prestigious recognitions such as: EMpower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Role Model and WeQual Inclusion & Diversity Award. She has championed internal initiatives to build inclusive workplaces and empower underrepresented communities, particularly women in leadership

Heena Nagarajan Early Days at Diageo

Discover how Heena Nagarajan began her journey at Diageo in 2018 as MD of Africa Emerging Markets, transforming operations across key African regions with strategic growth and supply chain success. She was responsible for:

• Heena Nagarajan’s journey with Diageo began in August 2018, Managing Director of Africa Emerging Markets (AEM)

• P&L delivery across key African regions

• Investment and whitespace strategies

• Supply chain transformation

• Compliance across markets like Ghana, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Angola, and WACA

Under her leadership, AEM became a growth powerhouse, with operating margins more than doubling and a significant leap in supply chain performance.

Heena Nagarajan Lead Diageo India to New Heights

Heena Nagarajan’s impactful leadership as MD & CEO of Diageo India, where she tripled business growth, boosted premium sales, and drove ESG excellence between 2021 and 2024.

In July 2021, she took over as Managing Director & CEO of Diageo India. Over the next four years, she led the company through one of its most remarkable growth phases:

• Business growth tripled between 2021–2023 compared to the previous five years

• Prestige & Above segment saw 11.9% growth, contributing 87.4% to net sales in FY24

• Market capitalization soared to INR 1 trillion from around INR 40,000–45,000 Cr in mid-2021

• Diageo India eliminated cumulative losses and declared dividends for the first time since the 2013–14 acquisition

• The Alwar distillery became Asia's first to be certified by the Alliance for Water Stewardship

• Water replenishment goals for 2026 were exceeded by 25%—three years early

• Gender diversity hit major milestones:

  • 50% women in the Executive Team

  • 43% women among new hires

• A personal highlight: RCB’s Women’s Premier League victory in 2024

Her leadership at Diageo India was marked by her global mindset, data-driven strategy, and deep commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) values.

Heena Nagarajan Career

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She has a career spanning three decades across global markets.  Spanning Three Decades Across Global Markets Before joining Diageo, Heena Nagarajan made her mark in several top-tier FMCG organizations:

Heena Nagarajan At Reckitt:

• Rose to become SVP & Regional Director – North Asia, leading operations in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

• Turned the region into a top global contributor for Reckitt

• Managed board responsibilities in China and Hong Kong

• Led a joint venture in China with a local partner

Heena Nagarajan Earlier Roles:

• Senior positions at Mary Kay India

• Key leadership roles at Nestlé India

With a track record spanning India, China, Southeast Asia, and Africa, Nagarajan has built high-growth businesses in health & hygiene, nutrition, beauty, home décor, and F&B segments.

Heena Nagarajan Academic Background

Heena Nagarajan holds a degree from Delhi University and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad—an academic foundation that shaped her global business leadership journey.

• Bachelor’s Degree – Delhi University

• MBA – Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad

Her academic credentials have complemented her global perspective and business acumen throughout her career.

Heena Nagarajan at Present - Leading Diageo Africa

Now, as she steps into her new role as President of Diageo Africa, Heena Nagarajan is returning to a region she helped shape. Her mission is clear:

“Foster a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability while delivering exceptional experiences to consumers and communities.”

Her journey to Diageo’s Global Executive Committee reflects her immense value to the company and her ability to drive performance across emerging markets globally.

Conclusion - Heena Nagarajan

From transforming businesses to championing diversity and sustainability, Heena Nagarajan exemplifies modern leadership. Her move to Diageo Africa signals continued commitment to growth, innovation, and purpose-led leadership—setting a high benchmark for the next generation of global executives.