Speaker

Deirdre Mahlan

President, Diageo

As President of Diageo North America, Deirdre is responsible for the company’s largest market in terms of sales and operating profit. In this role she oversees Diageo’s U.S. and Canadian spirits and beer businesses, which include brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Baileys and Guinness.

Deirdre has more than 20 years of experience in the consumer goods sector in a number of senior roles, primarily in the US with Diageo and Seagram. Most recently, Deirdre served as CFO of Diageo PLC, during which time she was a member of Diageo’s Board of Directors. Deirdre is also a Non- executive Director for Experian plc.

A native New Yorker, Deirdre holds an MBA from Columbia University and undergraduate degree from New York University.

Lance Stuart is a partner at Vici Partners. He has over 30 years of consulting and operating experience, principally in the U.S., Japan and China. Clients span industries from cosmetics and consumer electronics to software, chemicals, insurance, airlines and telecoms. He has been an investor, co-founder, CEO, COO and board member of several companies in the U.S. and Asia. He began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in New York then transferred to Tokyo.

Lance earned a B.S. in economics and marketing, cum laude, from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School (’78), where he was awarded two academic scholarships. He was raised in Tokyo and is an active volunteer in several non-profit organizations including the Harvard Business School Club of NY, the Harvard Business School Association of Orange County and as a Council Member on the U.S.-Japan Council.