Diageo PLC (LSE:DGE) has appointed Debra Crew interim chief executive officer with immediate effect.
The announcement came as the spirits maker said current CEO Sir Ivan Menezes is in hospital receiving treatment for medical condition including a stomach ulcer.
“Over the weekend, we learned that Ivan's recovery suffered a significant setback due to complications, which followed emergency surgery on the ulcer,” Diageo said in a statement.
Crew had been due to become CEO on July 1, with Menezes retiring on June 30.
But this move has now been brought forward.
Menezes joined Diageo through the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997 and has held a number of senior positions in the business, including chief operating officer; president, Diageo North America; chairman, Diageo Asia Pacific; and chairman, Diageo Latin America and Caribbean.
He has been an executive director of Diageo since July 2012 and has served as CEO since July 2013.