Abanti Sankaranarayanan: In High Spirits
Today, Diageo India is a leading beverage alcohol company, respected for its size, iconic global and local brands, and market prowess. Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Strategy & Corporate Affairs Officer, Diageo India, has played a pivotal role, which she accepts in transforming Diageo’s stature and strategic direction in this country. “My past and current roles have touched all parts of Diageo’s journey towards where it is now,” Sankaranarayanan says.
Currently, Sankaranarayanan’s responsibilities (she is also a member of the executive committee) include alcohol policy, Regulatory & Trade matters, market access, corporate communication and reputation along with programmes to address alcohol misuse, champion responsible consumption and deliver social impact. A distinguishing contribution by her was bringing a stable policy environment in the alcohol business. Reportedly, the stable policy environment helped Diageo registering a 10 per cent growth in sales and a 13 per cent growth in profits in Q1 of 2019-20, despite the country’s economy facing an overall slowdown.
In her 10-year long term with Diageo, she held three roles – first as Marketing & Innovations Director, followed by MD, Diageo India - the company that Diageo operated in India prior to its acquisition of United Spirits - and, then the current role. Post integration with USL, she handled the responsibility of setting up the corporate relations function and leading the luxury portfolio, a first for USL.
Before joining Diageo, a considerable part of her career was spent with the Tata Group, as part of the elite Tata Administrative Services , and was managing some of the best-known consumer brands of the group in India, the UK, and the US. She stayed with Tata Group for 17 years and worked across various companies and geographies.
She is on the Boards of the Advertising Standards Council of India, Arvind Fashions, UK-India Business Council in India, and the International Spirits & Wines Association of India. She completed her graduation in economics from the St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and an MBA from IIM-A.
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ODAY, DIAGEO India is a leading beverage alcohol company, respected for its size, iconic global and local brands, and market prowess. Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Strategy & Corporate Affairs Officer, Diageo India, has played a pivotal role, which she accepts in transforming Diageo’s stature and strategic direction in this country. “My past and current roles have touched all parts of Diageo’s journey towards where it is now,” Sankaranarayanan says.
Currently, Sankaranarayanan’s responsibilities (she is also a member of the executive committee) include alcohol policy, Regulatory & Trade matters, market access, corporate communication and reputation along with programmes to address alcohol misuse, champion responsible consumption and deliver social impact. A distinguishing contribution by her was bringing a stable policy environment in the alcohol business. Reportedly, the stable policy environment helped Diageo registering a 10 per cent growth in sales and a 13 per cent growth in profits in Q1 of 2019-20, despite the country’s economy facing an overall slowdown.
In her 10-year long term with Diageo, she held three roles – first as Marketing & Innovations Director, followed by MD, Diageo India - the company that Diageo operated in India prior to its acquisition of United Spirits - and, then the current role. Post integration with USL, she handled the responsibility of setting up the corporate relations function and leading the luxury portfolio, a first for USL.
Before joining Diageo, a considerable part of her career was spent with the Tata Group, as part of the elite Tata Administrative Services , and was managing some of the best-known consumer brands of the group in India, the UK, and the US. She stayed with Tata Group for 17 years and worked across various companies and geographies.
She is on the Boards of the Advertising Standards Council of India, Arvind Fashions, UK-India Business Council in India, and the International Spirits & Wines Association of India. She completed her graduation in economics from the St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and an MBA from IIM-A.
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