Business Development Director

Context

This is a crucial role in the DIAGEO Global Business Development & Ventures Team reporting into Global Head of Business Development. The role is responsible for helping drive DIAGEO's Business Development agenda, with focus on M&A opportunities.

The Global Business Development & Ventures team (“BD”) is responsible for driving Diageo’s inorganic growth ambition and creating shareholder value by: (a) identifying, pursuing, and executing M&A opportunities against our core hunting grounds; monitoring, assessing and executing on Group-wide large-scale M&A opportunities and partnerships; (b) assessing and executing other tactical M&A opportunities, including responsibility for Diageo’s industry-leading venturing arm, Distill Ventures; and (c) actively managing the portfolio of Diageo brands and companies.

BD is organized as a central team mostly based in London, with the ability to facilitate an effective partnership with local business teams. In addition, there are a number of team members across NAM and APAC, all working collaboratively with the London team and other regions as needed.

The BD team needs to work flexibly driven by the strategic priorities and, at times, tight deadlines set by both Diageo Executive team, market Executive teams, and external factors.

Key Accountabilities:

Business Development Director

• Support the development of the BD agenda with agility and pace, including the identification of M&A opportunities, including strategic and financial assessment, and helping translate APAC’s overall growth strategy into BD priorities
• Independently management on BD projects, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, distribution agreements and equity transactions involving third parties
• Lead end-to-end project management of transactions, from origination to completion including post-completion obligations and commitments, while assuring that all transactions follow the BD approval process, including writing approval papers.
• Oversee and support the development of valuation and business models to support BD projects, and ability to challenge and validate assumptions with market teams
• Own and lead the due diligence process, including coordinating external advisors, analyzing diligence findings, and identifying potential risks, implications, and interrelations of findings with business case assumptions and transaction documents
• Collaborate with BD Directors,  M&A legal and external advisors in the review and negotiation of core transaction documents
• Partner effectively with the Integration team to both incorporate all Integration assumptions into business cases, support development of the integration plan, and assure proper handoff of transactions to Integration post-closing.
• Lead the preparation of briefing and approval materials to Diageo Executives and other stakeholders

Market Complexity:

This role will be focused on BD agenda, which may include supporting multi-market initiatives, and potential collaboration with initiatives in different regions, yet all with varying level of complexity in terms commercial and regulatory environments.

To be successful in the role requires:
Strong relationship building and network: proven track record of building relationships internally and externally with tangible examples of working alongside others and influencing senior stakeholders.
Financial Skills, Commercial Acumen and Expertise: The desired candidate will be highly commercial in addition to having basic financial skills which include:

• Ability to build from a blank sheet valuation models - including DCF, comparables, sensitivities, etc.
• Basic accounting knowledge, including ability to perform EP, EPS Accretion/dilution analyses
• Ability to structure transactions with input from tax, legal, and treasury and manage the approval process.
• Work with integration team to ensure maximum value delivered from acquisitions

Operational navigator: proven ability to drive traction and embed new thinking (and programs) within DIAGEO – can demonstrate understanding of how to leverage a network and work within the DIAGEO system, driving momentum behind your vision
Comfortable working in the unknown and ambiguous: pioneering new thinking and avenues for DIAGEO without feeling intimidated or lost. Clarity of thought and ability to navigate ambiguity.
Passion for driving value-creating opportunities, entrepreneurship and working autonomously: The desired candidate will be a self-starter who feels empowered by space and freedom.
Qualifications and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree with strong academic record, MBA preferred.
• Desirable to have previous transaction experience within industry, ideally investment banking, venture capital, private equity or corporate development; alternatively commercial finance experience
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, and strategic thinking capabilities
• Excellent project management skills working with cross-functional teams and demonstrable experience of establishing credibility, influence and working at senior management levels
• Self starter, high energy, delivers against goals with minimal supervision
• Clear and succinct communicator, both culturally aware and adaptable