Global beverage giant Diageo has informed the Irish Department of Enterprise of its intention to cut approximately 150 jobs in Ireland. The London-based company stated the move is part of a broader redesign of its operating framework announced earlier this year, aiming to drive sustainable returns and deliver a more competitive organization.
The restructuring is spearheaded by the new Chief Executive Officer, Dave Lewis, who took over in January 2026 following the departure of former CEO Debra Crew (inside.beer, 2025-07-17) and his subsequent appointment in late 2025 (inside.beer, 2025-11-10). Nicknamed "Drastic Dave" for his aggressive cost-cutting measures during his previous tenures at Tesco and Unilever, Lewis has reportedly set cost-reduction targets for his top executives. According to the Financial Times, teams that do not generate revenue are expected to face the heaviest cuts.
The proposed headcount reductions follow a period of weak growth for the global market leader in premium spirits. In its third quarter, spanning January through March 2026, organic sales rose by just 0.3%. The company has been grappling with lower alcohol consumption trends and a slump in revenue in the US and Chinese markets. However, sales in Europe increased by 8.8%, driven largely by the strong performance of Guinness in Britain and Ireland.
Diageo employs approximately 1,200 people in Ireland across brewing, liqueur production, marketing, sales, and commercial support. The company produces Guinness, Baileys, and Roe & Co whiskey in the country. While Guinness saw an 11% increase in organic sales in the second half of 2025, Baileys has been under pressure, with volumes dropping by 9.9% to 7.5 million nine-litre cases (675,000 hl) over the year. Previously, Diageo already paused production at its Roe & Co distillery in Dublin last summer to optimize resources.
The company emphasized that it will prioritize informing colleagues of any organizational changes first. A detailed update for shareholders regarding the strategic progress and the exact scale of the restructuring is planned for the Capital Markets Day on August 6, 2026. The announcement coincides with leadership changes in the region, including the upcoming start of Diageo Ireland's new managing director, Conor Neiland, on July 1.
