Hina Nagarajan announces transition to portfolio career
Hina Nagarajan, who served as President of Diageo Africa and was a member of Diageo plc’s Global Executive Committee until June 2026, has announced her decision to transition to a portfolio career, saying she plans to spend more time with her family while taking up board and advisory roles
In a LinkedIn post, Nagarajan described the move as the end of “a long climb” and said she was now “poised to enjoy the view from the top.”
“My grandson Kiaan, our first grandchild, is the inspiration for my decision,” she wrote, adding that she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband of 38 years, their four children, extended family and friends, and “seeing the world through Kiaan’s eyes as a doting grand mom.”
“8 terrific years at Diageo! Iconic brands, great culture and countless milestones to celebrate in my various roles – the turnaround of Africa Emerging markets to become a significant contributor to growth, the transformation of our India business tripling shareholder value and crossing INR 1 Trillion ($11 Bn) market cap.And this last year, leading Africa to become one of the fastest growing regions within Diageo.Bringing huge global recognition for my contributions!” she wrote
“I am clear this would not have possible without the hard work, passion and support of my Exec colleagues, team members and all those who stood with me in each of the roles. A BIG THANK YOU to each one of you for making this happen,” she said
Nagarajan also looked back on a career spanning about four decades across the FMCG sector, during which she worked in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, India and Africa
“This is an opportunity for me to thank four decades’ worth of team members, colleagues, mentors, collaborators,” she wrote, while paying tribute to her late mentors Ivan Menezes and KK Chua, saying they “made huge things possible” for her
Looking ahead, Nagarajan said she plans to continue mentoring future business leaders, help companies grow and encourage more women in leadership
“As I look to the future, I will continue to pay forward what I have so generously received. Help businesses grow extraordinarily, continue to mentor the next generation of leaders to lead with purpose, do business the right way and hopefully inspire other women to believe anything is possible!”
She added that her next chapter would include “more family time, a few boards, advisory work, P/E,” with further details to be shared later
“So what next… I know that I will KEEP WALKING!” Nagarajan wrote
Nagarajan served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Spirits Limited between July 2021 and March 2025 before taking over as President of Diageo Africa in April 2025. She remained in that role until June 2026 while serving on Diageo plc’s Global Executive Committee
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First Published onJuly 10, 2026, 16:20:41 IST
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