HINA NAGARAJAN

MD & CEO , Member Diageo Global Executive Committee

Diageo Global:
Diageo plc is a multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London,
England. It operates from 132 sites around the world. It was the world's largest distiller before
being overtaken by Kweichow Moutai of China in 2017. It is a major distributor of Scotch
whisky and other spirits.

EARLY LIFE:

 Birth:
Hina Nagarajan come from an middle class background born and brought up in Delhi.

 Childhood:
Hina Nagarajan had a very comfortable childhood life,her mom was the driving force,
she always taught them to stretch yourselves and reach for the stars. Her mother kept
telling them that she wanted the girls to work and wanted to be self sufficient.

 Education:
Hina Nagarajan did B.Com Degree and did Hotel Management Degree at the same time
and also made it to the best B-school(IIM-Ahmedabad) in the country.

 Parents:
Hina Nagarajan Dad came from pakistan when partion happend s ohe was one of those
guys who traveled on top of the train penniless and her mom was a gorgeous lady very
ambitious and very progressive in her thinking.
CAREER PATH:

Hina Nagarajan has been named as the next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of
India's largest liquor brand United Spirits (USL) . Nagarajan will succeed Anand Kripalu, who
has been MD and CEO since 2014.

Nagarajan, an Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad graduate is the first woman to lead
USL and also the first woman leading a liquor company of such a large scale in the country.

Nagarajan is currently managing director, Africa Regional Markets (ARM) at Diageo, USL's
parent company. "Hina will take over as Managing Director and CEO of USL and will also join
the Diageo Executive Committee.

The company's statement read, "Since joining Diageo in the summer of 2018, Hina has led
Diageo's Africa Regional Markets (ARM) comprising operations in Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia,
the Indian Ocean, Angola and several other countries."

Under Hina's leadership, ARM has become a significant growth driver for Diageo Africa, the
company said.

Nagarajan has spent over 30 years in CPG businesses and held several senior marketing and
general management positions at Reckitt Benckiser (RB),,Nestle India and Mary Kay India. Just
before joining Diageo, Nagarajan was MD China & SVP North Asia with RB.

key responsibilities included P&L delivery, investment, category and whitespace entry strategies,
corporate governance and compliance across all the business units in her region. Under her
leadership, AEM transformed to become a significant growth driver for Africa whilst doubling
operating margins.

Struggling Part:
When she started working there were really very few women in corporations and when she went
into senior leadership groups it was often male clubs and she really struggled to find a way to
belong but as she sort of grew into more senior roles she just stopped trying and just did what she
wanted to do belive in yourself. Her husband has been so supportive in her career.
PERSONALITY TRAITS:

1) OPENNESS TO TAKE CHALLENGES:

It's not usual for an alco-bev company to be run by a woman. But when Diageo offered
her the India role, following her successful transformation of its Africa business, she took
up the challenge. "I felt that being the CEO of an alco-bev company in India would be a
great opportunity to change the paradigm of this industry and perceptions of women and
alcohol," she says.

An avid music lover, Nagarajan is equally passionate about Bollywood, old pop songs
and instrumentals—the rhythmic symphonies blending the diverse sets of tunes, ignites
her senses. Just like her new role, where she is now in charge of blending the perfect mix
of profitability and growth, while promoting responsible and more inclusive drinking
behavior among consumers.

2) OPEN TO CHANGE:

Transitioning into a chief executive role is very different from moving into any other
senior role. The transition needs to be smooth and the new CEO has no time at all to
adjust when they sit behind their desk for the first time on day one. Preparing for the role
took time and thought.

Hina explained to WeQual Magazine the transition process, from her current
responsibilities to her new role as CEO of Diageo India, which she officially takes up on
July 1st.

“First of all, all my preparatory work is happening virtually, due to the Lockdown.

“On a personal note, it is definitely going to mean a lot of changes for us. Though we
know India, we are going to be based in a new city for us, so it is going to be a challenge
setting up a new infrastructure in a new place. Particularly in the middle of a global
pandemic.
 “While I have been the CEO of a company in India before, the scale of our Diageo India
business is way larger and also the company is a listed one.”

3) SENSITIVITY AND FEARLESS:

Her mom when she got cancer she wanted to be around with her so they chose not to go
away and support their parents when they needed them the time she spent with her mom
the time she took time off for my family you know what she made up for it if she grew
slower in the corporate world or if she took a step back she mean this is what she want
she wanted so zero regrets.

In an interview she said Your priorities should lead to what you want to do and therefore
drive your own balance of things. I couldn’t imagine that I would grow in the corporate
ladder like this where I would be a part of senior leadership one day or I couldn’t imagine
that I'd Be a part of a global talent pool one day. When i started working there were really
very few women in corporations and when i went into senior leadership groups it was
often male clubs and i really really struggled to find a way to belong but as i sort of grew
into more senior roles i just stopped trying and just did what i wanted to do believe in
yourself believe that you have the potential have the confidence and be able to express
yourself without fear. Don't be hesitant to try so be fearless.”

LEADERSHIP TRAITS:

1) SELF CONFIDENT:

Hina Nagarajan is very confident about being a leading female CEO of the liquor brand.
She is the first woman to lead USL and also the first woman leading a liquor company of
such a large scale in the country. So according to her it requires hard work and courage to
work in a corporate ladder. This shows her confidence.
 2) EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR:
She is a very effective communicator and she is able to answer all the questions asked in
the interview very properly and effectively. This shows that she is able to communicate
her ideas and orders well this shows the trait of an effective leader.

LEADERSHIP STYLE:

Hina Nagarajan is a very effective, intelligent and hardworking personality. This is shown by the
ways she, being a female, has achieved top position as CEO.

REFERENCES:

https://www.theofficialboard.com/biography/hina-nagarajan-5e231

https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/22080827

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOoTFYY1DXQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhFVFhrFRK0

https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/who-is-hina-nagarajan-united-spirits-next-
md-ceo-281274-2020-12-11

https://www.startuplanes.com/top-70-ceos-in-india/

https://issuu.com/edgecreativestudios/docs/wequal-magazine-issue02-pages

https://www.businesstoday.in/specials/most-powerful-women-in-business/story/hina-nagarajan-
diageos-growth-champion-315148-2021-12-10
KHUSHBOO RESHAMWALA
DIVISION A
SEMESTER 1