Laura Merritt

Laura is the President of Diageo Beer Company (DBC) and Premix. She joined Diageo in July 2023 as CMO of DBC and Senior Vice President of Pre-Mix. Since joining, she has led the development of our Pre-Mix strategy in the North America market, overseeing the launch of The Cocktail Collection, Captain Morgan Sliced, and various Ready-to-Serve and Ready-to-Drink offerings. Laura has also developed successful brand partnerships with brands like Smirnoff ICE, led the refreshed look of Lone River Ranch Water, and supported the development of Guinness’ “Lovely Day” campaign.

Laura is a passionate and committed leader who brings an entrepreneurial mindset to the growth of brands, businesses, and people. She joined Diageo from Tacombi, a fast-growing CPG brand, where she served as President. Prior to this, she led Marketing and Innovation for KIND Snacks. As a General Manager, Laura successfully led premium brands through periods of intensive growth and preparation for acquisition, including Cape Cod and Kettle Brand Potato Chips, and was part of the leadership team for brands acquired by Mars, Campbell Soup, and Snyder’s-Lance.

Laura holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia.