BENGALURU – India’s leading liquor company United Spirits Ltd (USL) has named Hina Nagarajan as the company’s Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Anand Kripalu, who is the current CEO, will step down on June 30, 2021 and Nagarajan will assume charge from July 1, 2021.

Hina is currently the Managing Director, Africa Regional Markets (ARM) at USL’s parent company — Diageo. In her current role, she leads Diageo’s ARM comprising operations in Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, the Indian Ocean, Angola, and several other countries.

Hina will be the first woman to lead USL and also the first woman leading a large-scale liquor company in the country.

In her new position as a CEO, Hina will be reporting to John Kennedy, President of Diageo Europe and India. She will also be moving to Bengaluru and will be working closely with Kripalu to ensure a smooth transition.

Prior to Diageo, Hina has a working experience of over 30 years. An Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad graduate, she has worked with consumer-packaged goods businesses, and held several senior marketing and general management positions at Reckitt Benckiser (RB), Nestle India, and Mary Kay India.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, USL runs 49 manufacturing facilities in India. It manufactures, sells and distributes an outstanding portfolio of premium brands such as Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No.1, Smirnoff, and Captain Morgan.

Diageo had announced a multi-structured deal in 2012 to acquire a majority stake in USL, which was then led by Vijay Mallya.