Directorate

DIAGEO PLC
7 October 1999

                Board appointments at Diageo

Diageo today announces that Lord Blyth of Rowington will succeed
Sir Anthony Greener as Chairman of Diageo, following Sir Anthony's
retirement from Diageo on June 30th 2000.  This will be a non-
executive appointment.

Diageo also announces the appointment of Paul Walsh, currently CEO
of The Pillsbury Company as Chief Operating Officer, Diageo,
effective 1st January 2000.  He will succeed John McGrath as CEO,
Diageo on 1st January 2001, following John McGrath's retirement
from Diageo at the end of December 2000.

John Lilly, currently President, Pillsbury North America, will
succeed Paul Walsh as CEO of The Pillsbury Company on January 1st
2000.  He will also be appointed to the Executive Committee of
Diageo on this date.

Commenting on these appointments, Chairman, Sir Anthony Greener
said

'I am delighted to make these announcements.  They ensure the
seamless succession at Diageo which John McGrath and I have
consistently been determined to achieve. James Blyth's experience
at Boots, both of marketing, and 'managing for value', and his
experience with government, are excellent qualifications for the
next Chairman of Diageo.

The appointment of Paul Walsh as COO on January 1st 2000, in
preparation for being CEO on January 1st 2001, is part of the
succession process. Paul has an outstanding track record of general
management, and after his seven very successful years as CEO of
Pillsbury he is well equipped, at the age of 44, to lead the next
generation of management at Diageo.  Paul will spend the early part
of the year 2000 deepening his understanding of our other
businesses, leading the annual strategy round, and leading a number
of new programmes and initiatives, while John McGrath will continue
to run the business as CEO.  In the second half of 2000, Paul will
progressively take over overall management from John.

John Lilly, who joined Pillsbury in 1998 after a successful career
with Procter & Gamble, has a strong background in marketing and
general management and has the skills and experience to succeed
Paul Walsh as CEO at Pillsbury'.

For further information:

Kathryn Partridge       Media Relations         [phone]
Catherine James         Investor Relations      [phone]
                              
Note to editors:
Lord Blyth has been Chairman of The Boots Company since 1998 and
Chief Executive since 1987.  Prior to that he has been Group Chief
Executive of the Plessey Company and Head of Defence Sales at the
Ministry of Defence.  He is a non-executive director of NatWest
group and Anixter Inc.  He is 59.

Paul Walsh has been Chief Executive of Pillsbury since January
1992, and a Director of GrandMet and then Diageo since 1995.  Paul
joined GrandMet in 1982 on the finance side of Watney Mann and
Truman Brewers.  He has held general management positions for 11
years and he is a Director of FDX Corporation, parent company of
Federal Express Company, and Ceridian Corporation.

John Lilly joined Pillsbury in July 1998 as President, Pillsbury
North America.  Prior to that he held a number of senior
appointments at Procter & Gamble, latterly as a Regional Vice
President in P&G's Europe, Middle East, Africa and General Export
Region.  John joined Procter & Gamble in 1976 and worked in most of
their food and beverage businesses.  He is 46.

Diageo (NYSE: DEO) is one of the world's leading consumer brand
companies.  Diageo's key brands include Johnnie Walker and J&B
Scotch whiskies, Smirnoff vodka, Gordon's gin, Baileys cream
liqueur, Guinness stout, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs and
Burger King.

The Diageo group operates in over 200 markets worldwide, and has
international sales of £12 billion. The company is listed on the UK
(DGE), New York (DEO), and Paris Stock Exchanges. Additional
information on the Diageo group and its brands is available at
www.diageo.com.