Menezes leaves behind him, his wife, Shibani and his two children, Nikhil and Rohini along with many friends from across all corners of the industry. Ferrán added: "On behalf of the board, executive committee and all our employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to them." Debra Crew, who was due to take on the role of CEO at the end of its financial year, has become interim CEO with immediate effect. Menezes has been highly praised for his decade at the top of Diageo. Since he moved into the driving seat in 2013, the company's shareholders have enjoyed a handsome 127% return of their investment compared to the FTSE100's dismal 17% and even today Diageo is responsible for £1 in every £10 of the UK's food and drink exports. Menezes adopted and refined the strategy of his predecessor, Paul Walsh, making Diageo what was known to be the pre-eminent producer at the top end of the global spirits market.