{"id":110173,"date":"2026-08-24T21:17:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/110173\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T21:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:17:25","slug":"diageo-sheds-2000-jobs-as-it-seeks-to-revive-fortunes-under-drastic-dave-lewis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/110173\/","title":{"rendered":"Diageo sheds 2,000 jobs as it seeks to revive fortunes under ‘Drastic’ Dave Lewis"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ANGHARAD CARRICK, BUSINESS NEWS EDITOR<\/a> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Updated: 15:25 BST, 18 August 2026 <\/p>\n

Diageo slashed nearly 2,000 jobs in the year to June as the struggling drinks giant launches a drastic restructuring to revive its fortunes.<\/p>\n

Total headcount fell 6 per cent to 27,938 on a full-time basis, down from 29,860 in the previous year, its annual report showed.<\/p>\n

The vast majority of the cuts came in Africa \u2013 one of its fastest-growing regions \u2013 which cut 928 jobs, followed by 405 corporate roles across the business.<\/p>\n

Diageo shed 356 roles in Asia Pacific and 129 in North America, which have dragged on sales over the past year, but added 104 roles in Europe, where demand for Guinness has helped offset the decline in other divisions.<\/p>\n

It comes as chief executive Sir Dave Lewis, who joined in January, this month outlined a \u00a3740million cost-cutting drive <\/a>over the next three years.<\/p>\n

\"Demand <\/p>\n

Demand for Guinness in Europe helped to offset a decline in sales in the regions\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lewis, the former Tesco chief dubbed \u2018drastic Dave\u2019, said there would be \u2018significant job cuts\u2019 at the FTSE 100<\/a> firm \u2013 whose brands include Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka \u2013 to restore its \u2018winning culture\u2019.<\/p>\n

He previously said a ‘country by country’ approach had become a ‘route to failure’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A fresh round of job cuts will add to the thousands of\u00a0jobs already lost in the year to June 30, with the final figure\u00a0expected to rise\u00a0as most of the reductions across its regional markets are expected to be completed by September 1.<\/p>\n

Lewis refused to reveal how many more jobs will be cut over the next three years but he is expected to focus on core finance, technology and HR roles, rather than brands and marketing.<\/p>\n

Diageo has said it will pile more money into cutting the prices of its products to appeal to cash-conscious consumers, and expand its fastest-growing drinks, including Guinness and canned cocktails.<\/p>\n

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\n Diageo sheds 2,000 jobs as it seeks to revive fortunes under ‘Drastic’ Dave Lewis<\/p>\n