Paul Walsh

This article is part of the Spinwatch public health oriented Alcohol Portal project.

Dr Paul Walsh is the former chief executive of Diageo, who in June 2013 retired after 13 years at the helm of the world's largest alcohol company.

Walsh is now incoming chairman of contract caterer Compass Group, but 'will be paid £80,000 a year to continue to represent his former employer in the Scotch whisky industry after receiving almost £15m in cash and long-term bonuses from the company in its most recent financial year'.

Background

Walsh was ranked the second most powerful influence over what the world will be drinking in 2008 by The Drinks Business, an online trade magazine. Diageo made sales of £7.48 billion in 2007, more than 60 per cent more than its nearest rival. The company outsells the competition in every emerging market except for China, and Walsh made no secret of his determination to catch up with Pernod Ricard in this key territory.

He was listed by the Guardian as ranking 16th in the top 20 earners in Britain in 2003, with a salary of £3,457,909. He joined Grand Metropolitan in 1982 going on to become CEO of the Pillsbury Company in 1992. He was appointed to the Diageo Board in 1997 and became its CEO in 2000.

Paul Walsh's view on business in the UK: 'The UK's enterprise culture needs strengthening. We need those who seek to legislate, regulate, or otherwise influence opinion to see business as an inherently good thing, creating prosperity and the foundation on which the institutions of civil society can flourish. We need to change the culture of this country so that enterprise is celebrated.'

In January 2012 Paul Walsh joined other political and business leaders to attend meetings at the World Economic Forum's Davos conference.

Tax avoidance

The Guardian reported:

'While Walsh headed up Diageo, despite average annual profits of almost £2bn, its accounts disclosed £43m a year (little more than 2% of its profits) in average UK corporation tax charges. Diageo has said that it moved a number of its brands to the Netherlands in 1998 and its operations have been “thoroughly reviewed” by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Walsh has criticised tax laws that he says allows others not to pay their fair share.'

Letter to the Telegraph

On 1 April 2015 Walsh was one of 103 business leaders who wrote to the Telegraph praising the British Conservative Party's economic policies and claiming a Labour government would 'threaten jobs and deter investment' in the UK.

Helping British businesses

Walsh was announced by David Cameron as one of six business leaders who will identify the European rules and regulations that need abolition or reform to help British Businesses grow. The other five leaders were: Ian Cheshire (CEO Kingfisher), Glenn Cooper (president ATG Access), Dale Murray (non-executive director BIS), Marc Bolland (chief executive Marks & Spencers) and Louise Makin (CEO BTG).

Affiliations

• Diageo CEO
• The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum Director
• Centrica Plc Director, brands include British Gas
• The Scotch Whisky Association Director and chair 2007-2011
• FedEx Corporation (USA)Non-executive director
• Unilever plc and Unilever NV Non-executive director
• UK Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group - member
• Medway Films Plc Director
• Mole Films LLP
• Kennet Films LLP
• Ingenious Film Partners LLP
• Henley Management Centre .
• European Roundtable of Industrialists

Former Directorships

• Grand Metropolitan Plc
• The Amsterdam Group
• Diageo Finance PLC
• Diageo Great Britain Limited
• Diageo Scotland Limited
• General Mills Berwick Limited
• Federal Express- non executive director