Diageo North America has been named to Diversity MBA's prestigious "50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership" list of the best places in the country for women and diverse managers to work. This is the sixth consecutive year that Diageo has been awarded this distinction by Diversity MBA, a national leadership organization.

Ranking 19th overall, Diversity MBA also recognized Diageo as Best in Class for Board Diversity and named four Diageo North America employees to its "Top 100 under 50 Diverse Emerging Leaders" list.

For the 2017 "50 Out Front" list, Diversity MBA evaluated more than 500 companies on criteria including representation, board diversity, recruitment, workplace inclusion, retention, succession planning and accountability. Diversity MBA's Inclusive Leadership Index identifies companies for Best in Class recognition that have demonstrated consistent and excellent systems, practices, metrics and impact.

"In addition to the sixth consecutive year of making Diversity MBA's '50 Out Front' list, Diageo's recognition as Best in Class for Board Diversity exhibits our commitment to truly engaging our board in our diversity strategy," said Alessandra Ginante, Diageo North America's Executive Vice President, Human Resources. "To also have four employees elected to Diversity MBA's 'Top 100 under 50' is a source of tremendous pride for Diageo, and demonstrates that our employees exemplify the diversity and inclusion values our company embraces so passionately."

Diversity MBA's "Top 100 under 50 Diverse Emerging Leaders" list recognizes talented professionals who have made a tremendous impact on leadership in their companies and communities. Diageo employees named to the 2017 list include:

• Sandhya Padmanabhan, Senior Brand Manager, Johnnie Walker, Marketing (New York)
• Ryan Robertson, Brand Director, Cîroc, Marketing (New York)
• Yediel Melendez, Manager, Asset Care, Supply (Illinois)
• Guillermo "Will" Estrada, Manager, Manufacturing Excellence, Supply (Illinois)

Pamela McElvane, CEO of Diversity MBA and publisher of Diversity MBA Magazine, said, "It's no longer enough to just implement practices; intentional strategies are necessary to increase all dimensions of diversity in leadership and provide programs to mitigate bias. The Best in Class companies actively engage in implementing leading practices that result in significant workplace outcomes that advance inclusive diversity."

These recognitions from Diversity MBA are part of a growing list of awards Diageo's North American business has earned for its commitment to inclusion and diversity. Additional recent honors include:

• Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality for the 10th consecutive year by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation
• Best Places to Work for New Dads Report by Fatherly (2016)
• Top 50 Companies for Executive Women by National Association of Female Executives (NAFE): (2010, 2012-2017)
• 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the 8th consecutive year by Working Mother Magazine (2009-2016)
• Fortune and Great Place to Work® Top 25 Best Global Companies to Work For (2014-2016)

In addition to inclusion and diversity, social responsibility and environmental sustainability are core to Diageo's values. Diageo cares passionately about people enjoying its brands responsibly, and reducing alcohol related harm in society through its own Alcohol in Society programs and collaborative partnerships. Diageo is recognized as a global leader in environmental sustainability and its progress and commitments to tackle climate change have been independently recognized around the world.

Honorees of the "50 Out Front List" and recipients of the "Top 100 under 50" awards will be honored at Diversity MBA's Annual Business Leaders Conference and Awards Gala in September, and featured in the Fall 2017 issue of Diversity MBA Magazine. For more information, visit www.diversitymbamagazine.com.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.