Vickie Sheriff will become Diageo's global communications director in September

Diageo has created the new position of global communications director, with the former deputy spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister set to fill the role.

The company, which reportedly cut 200 head office and regional roles earlier this month, said earlier today (26 June) that Vickie Sheriff will assume the position from 1 September. Sheriff, the current director of group communications at the Department for Transport for the UK Government, will report to Diageo's global corporate relations director, Charlotte Lambkin.

Sheriff's CV includes stints as the Prime Minister’s deputy official spokesperson and head of news for both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for International Development. She has also worked in HM Treasury and the former Department for Trade & Industry in communications roles.

Back in January, CEO Ivan Menezes gave further details on the company's plans to save GBP200m (US$331.4m) a year by the end of its fiscal 2016-2017.