Paul Walsh (Chair) Paul Walsh is the Chief Executive of Diageo plc. He was appointed to this position in September 2000, having previously been Chief Operating Officer. Paul joined GrandMet's brewing division in 1982 and became Finance Director in 1986. He held financial positions with Inter-Continental Hotels and the GrandMet Food sector from 1987 to 1989. He was appointed Division Chief Executive of Pillsbury in 1990, becoming Chief Executive Officer of The Pillsbury Company in 1992. Paul was appointed to the GrandMet board in October 1995 and to the Diageo board in December 1997. Paul is vice chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association and a non-executive director for FedEx Corporation and Centrica plc. Paul is also chairman of the court of governors of Henley Management College and a member of the board of trustees of The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum.