A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice was issued on June 30 and posted on August 21. According to the notice, the layoff process will begin September 30, 2026, and conclude by September 30, 2027.
A Diageo spokesperson said: "As we shared at the start of August, we have been redesigning our operating framework to deliver a more competitive Diageo. We understand that this is a difficult time for colleagues, and we remain committed to supporting everyone through these changes."
The layoffs are part of a wider restructuring at Diageo, the owner of brands including Don Julio and Johnnie Walker, which is targeting more than $1 billion in cost savings over the next three years as it seeks to reverse recent revenue declines. The plan was outlined by CEO Sir Dave Lewis following the release of Diageo's full-year 2026 results, which showed organic sales down 2% for the year, with North America net sales falling 8.4%.
Lewis, previously known for leading a similar cost-cutting program as CEO of Tesco, has already eliminated 2,000 jobs company-wide as part of the restructuring, bringing total headcount down to 27,938 — a 6.4% reduction from the prior year, according to Diageo's annual report.
The job cuts follow a series of leadership changes at Diageo. In April, Lewis appointed John O'Keeffe as North America president and CEO, moving him from his previous role leading the company's Asia Pacific and global travel retail business. Sujay Wasan, formerly a vice-president and regional leader at Procter & Gamble, took over O'Keeffe's former position.
Other recent changes include the appointment of Dayalan Nayager as president of Diageo's newly merged Europe region, and Barry O'Sullivan — a former colleague of Lewis's at Unilever — joining as managing director of Diageo Great Britain.
Separately, workers at Diageo's Cameronbridge Distillery in Fife, Scotland, are currently voting on potential strike action, accusing the company of failing to properly consult employees over potential redundancies at the site.
