Core Viewpoint - Diageo has appointed Dave Lewis, former CEO of Tesco, as its new CEO effective January 1, aiming to restore sales growth after facing criticism from shareholders due to poor performance and a prolonged CEO search [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Change - Dave Lewis will take over as CEO on January 1, succeeding the previous leadership amid shareholder criticism [1]. - Following the announcement, Diageo's stock price surged by 7% during early trading in London [1]. - Lewis has a notable background, having led Tesco from 2014 to 2020 and previously working at Unilever for nearly 30 years [1]. Group 2: Company Performance - Diageo has faced challenges, including a profit warning that caused its stock to drop to a 10-year low [1]. - The company is under pressure to improve its performance and restore sales growth [2]. Group 3: Leadership Experience - Diageo's chairman, John Manzoni, emphasized Lewis's extensive CEO experience and proven leadership skills in building and marketing leading global brands [1]. - Lewis earned the nickname "Dave the Iron Fist" during his tenure at Unilever, known for cost-cutting and transformation efforts [1]. - At Tesco, he successfully repositioned the company as a leading supermarket group in the UK through significant price reductions and a focus on core operations [1]. Group 4: Compensation - Dave Lewis will receive an annual salary of £1.5 million in his new role at Diageo [2].

Core Viewpoint - Diageo has appointed Dave Lewis, former CEO of Tesco, as its new CEO effective January 1, aiming to restore sales growth after facing criticism from shareholders due to poor performance and a prolonged search for leadership [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Appointment - Dave Lewis will take over as CEO of Diageo on January 1, succeeding the previous leadership amid shareholder criticism [1]. - Following the announcement, Diageo's stock price surged by 7% during early trading in London [1]. - Lewis previously led Tesco from 2014 to 2020 and has nearly 30 years of experience at Unilever [1]. Group 2: Company Performance and Challenges - Diageo has faced challenges, including a profit warning that led to its stock price hitting a 10-year low [1]. - The company has been criticized by shareholders for its poor performance and the lengthy process of finding a new CEO [1]. Group 3: Leadership Experience and Strategy - Diageo's chairman, John Manzoni, emphasized Lewis's extensive CEO experience and proven leadership skills in building and marketing leading global brands [1]. - Lewis earned the nickname "Dave the Iron Fist" during his 27 years at Unilever, known for cost-cutting and transformation efforts [1]. - At Tesco, he successfully refocused the company on its core UK business through significant price reductions, employee layoffs, and the sale of international operations [1]. Group 4: Compensation - Dave Lewis will receive an annual salary of £1.5 million in his new role at Diageo [2].

Group 1 - Diageo has selected Bank of America and Goldman Sachs for a strategic review of East African Breweries Limited, with a potential sale of its beer business valued at approximately $2 billion [1][2] - East African Breweries Limited is recognized as a leading alcoholic beverage company in East Africa, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a strong portfolio including brands like Tusker, Bell, Pilsner, Guinness, WhiteCap, Senator, Serengeti, and Allsopps [2] - Diageo is seeking a light-asset model to free up capital and restore growth [2] Group 2 - Diageo's stock price has declined by 44% over the past two years, and its debt has doubled since 2017 [4] - Following the sudden death of CEO Ivan Menezes two years ago, Debra Crew took over but is now being asked to step down after only two years, with Nik Jhangiani, the current CFO, appointed as interim CEO [6] - Analysts suggest that the new CEO must immediately optimize the product portfolio by divesting categories and brands with no growth potential [6]

Summary of Conference Call Records Industry Overview - The high-end beer industry in China is experiencing significant challenges, with overall beer sales declining approximately 10% in May 2025 compared to April 2025, indicating a worsening trend in the market [2][3] - The super high-end price segment (products priced above 12 RMB) saw a decline of 5.3% in May 2025, with specific brands like Blue Girl and Corona also facing declines of 5.5% and 12% respectively [2][4] Company Performance - Budweiser's high-end products experienced a 6.7% decline in sales in May 2025, primarily due to weak performance in Guangdong, where sales dropped nearly 25% [1][3][6] - Core price products saw a significant drop of nearly 18% in May 2025, with brands like Harbin Ice Pure and Snow Beer also reporting declines of 6.1% and over 15% respectively [1][2] - The overall sales decline in the Guangdong region is attributed to increased competition and promotional activities from local brands like Zhujiang Beer, which has rapidly replaced Harbin's market share [12][15] Regional Insights - Guangdong and Northeast regions are identified as the main areas of sales decline, each accounting for approximately 40% of the total sales drop [1][2] - The sales decline in Guangdong began in Q2 2024, exacerbated by promotional activities from Zhujiang Beer and differences in distribution models [12][13] Distributor Challenges - Distributors are facing significant challenges due to a sharp decline in market demand, leading to difficulties in meeting inventory targets [9][10] - The low-profit margins on products sold in small stores are causing distributors to prefer higher-margin products, further impacting Budweiser's market share [14] Strategic Responses - Carlsberg is implementing strategies to manage inventory and optimize its distribution network, including reducing the number of distributors and enhancing brand visibility [10][19] - Budweiser is adjusting its distributor structure by incorporating small distributors as primary distributors to improve profit margins and market coverage [18] Future Outlook - Budweiser is expected to enter a low base growth phase by Q3 or Q4 2025, with potential improvements in sales performance anticipated [6][19] - The company is focusing on increasing market share and brand visibility, particularly in core channels and through innovative regional partnerships, which have shown promising results in areas like Hubei and Anhui [19][21] Key Metrics - In the first five months of 2025, sales in innovative regions increased by 11.5%, with specific growth in core products and value segments [19][21] - The overall beer sales in China from May to December 2024 showed a decline of 3.1%, with Budweiser's sales down by 3.9% during the same period [11]