📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Head of Marketing - RTD
🔹 Company: Diageo
🔹 Location: London, London, City of, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, On-site
🔹 Category: Beverage Manufacturing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-29
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Architecting and delivering the future of Diageo's RTD portfolio in Great Britain.
- Driving category strategy, brand building, innovation, and commercial execution.
- Collaborating with global and regional teams to ensure brand ambitions are met.
- Transforming the RTD category through redefining the media model, expanding into 3rd spaces and outdoor, igniting culture-led brand building, leading pack architecture strategy, and elevating shopper marketing capability.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and innovative mindset, with the ability to navigate complex, cross-functional environments and drive real traction.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the development of a clear, insight-led RTD category and brand strategy that integrates brand building, innovation, RGM, and commercial execution.
✅ Deliver strategic clarity and executional excellence across the full marketing mix, ensuring a sharp consumer focus and commercial return.
✅ Partner closely with Global Brand Teams and European RTD teams to ensure brand ambitions are met through sufficient MA (Media & Activation) and PA (Promotional Activity) investment.
✅ In partnership with Innovation leads and regional partners, define a forward-looking innovation strategy that fuels long-term category growth.
✅ Collaborate with Consumer & Shopper Planning teams to embed customer and consumer centricity into every decision, acting as an inspiring leader on consumer behavior, cultural relevance, and shopper activation.
✅ Support the GB RTD Director in owning and managing the full shadow P&L for RTD brands in GB, monitoring performance drivers, responding to commercial shifts, and delivering growth and profitability targets.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong commercial acumen, with the ability to manage P&Ls and drive performance through innovative marketing strategies.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. MBA preferred but not required.
Experience: 10+ years of experience in RTD, alcohol, FMCG, or adjacent fast-paced consumer categories.
Required Skills:
- Enterprise leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
- Entrepreneurial attitude with a track record of disrupting norms to drive performance.
- People leadership and capability building, with a passion for coaching, upskilling, and creating high-performing teams.
- Category transformation and thought leadership, with the ability to reimagine what's possible for an entire category.
- Strong commercial competence and P&L management.
- Data-driven decision making and consumer engagement.
- Shopper marketing and retail activation.
- Agile development and innovation pipeline management.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the RTD or Alc category.
- Fluency in multiple languages.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in managing P&Ls and driving performance through innovative marketing strategies, with a strong leadership and entrepreneurial mindset.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £80,000 - £120,000 per annum (Estimated based on industry standards for similar roles in the UK)
Benefits:
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Private medical insurance.
- 25 days' holiday (plus bank holidays).
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Employee assistance program.
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for the role.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in the UK. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Beverage Manufacturing. Diageo is a global leader in premium drinks, with a portfolio of over 200 brands sold in 180 countries, including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Guinness.
Company Size: 10,001+ employees. As a large organization, Diageo offers extensive resources and opportunities for career growth and development.
Founded: Diageo was founded in 1997 through the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan.
Company Description:
- Diageo is a global leader in premium drinks, with a portfolio of over 200 brands sold in 180 countries.
- The company is built on the principles and foundations laid by the giants of the industry and has a broad consumer base.
- Diageo is committed to investing in the future and being mindful of its impact on people and the planet.
Company Specialties:
- Premium Drinks.
- Marketing.
- Innovation.
- Supply Chain.
- HR.
- Sales.
- Brand management.
- Premium Wines and Spirits Supplier.
- Luxury.
- Super premium.
- Beer.
- Consumer goods.
- E-commerce.
- Beverages.
- Spirits.
- FMCG.
- Brand owners.
Company Website: http://diageo.com
ASSUMPTION: Diageo's large size and global presence offer candidates the opportunity to work on a wide range of brands and gain exposure to diverse markets and cultures.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior leadership role, reporting directly to the GB RTD Director.
Reporting Structure: This role will lead a team of marketing professionals and collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Innovation, Supply, Commercial, and Consumer & Shopper Planning.
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site role with flexibility for the position.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential progression to a global role within the RTD category or other brand portfolios.
- Opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and innovation projects.
- Access to Diageo's extensive learning and development programs.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with the opportunity to make a real impact on Diageo's RTD portfolio and category.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space with on-site amenities.
Office Location(s): Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NW10 7HQ, United Kingdom
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global city with a vibrant cultural scene, diverse communities, and excellent transportation links.
- The Park Royal area is a well-established business district with easy access to public transportation and major highways.
- Diageo's office is located near several parks and recreational facilities.
Work Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for the role.
ASSUMPTION: The location and work environment at Diageo's London office provide a dynamic and engaging setting for employees, with easy access to urban amenities and green spaces.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission.
- Phone or video screening with the HR team.
- Face-to-face or video interview with the hiring manager and/or other team members.
- Final interview with the GB RTD Director.
- Background check and offer extension.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and category transformation.
- Leadership and team management skills.
- Commercial acumen and P&L management.
- Innovation and consumer engagement.
- Cultural fit and alignment with Diageo's values.
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your leadership, strategic, and commercial skills.
- Research Diageo's brand portfolio and RTD category to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to transforming the RTD category and driving brand growth.
ATS Keywords: RTD, Marketing Strategy, Brand Building, Innovation, Consumer Insights, Commercial Execution, P&L Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Cultural Relevance, Data-Driven Decision Making, Shopper Marketing, Agile Development, Team Leadership, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Consumer Engagement, Media Activation, Retail Marketing
ASSUMPTION: Diageo's application process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, leadership, and commercial skills, with a focus on cultural fit and alignment with the company's values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
- Marketing automation and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Marketo).
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social).
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello).
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data visualization tools, with experience in marketing automation and CRM platforms preferred.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Our success is driven by our people and their commitment to our values.
- We're passionate about what we do and how we do it.
- Our values shape the culture of our company and are vital to our success.
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional, with a focus on teamwork and collective success.
- Agile and adaptable, with a strong bias for action and results.
- Data-driven and insight-led, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- Inclusive and respectful, with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Diageo's values, particularly in the context of this role?
- How do you approach leading and managing high-performing teams in a dynamic and evolving category?
- How do you balance strategic thinking with a strong focus on execution and results?
ASSUMPTION: Diageo's culture values collaboration, agility, data-driven decision making, and inclusivity, with a strong focus on collective success and continuous learning.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The RTD category is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring adaptability and quick decision-making.
- The role involves managing a complex matrix of local, regional, and global collaborators, requiring strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- The on-site work arrangement may require flexibility and occasional travel for meetings and events.
- The role is based in London, which may have higher cost of living and competitive job market considerations.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to navigate a dynamic and complex work environment, with a strong focus on adaptability, stakeholder management, and flexibility.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on transforming the RTD category and driving brand growth in Great Britain.
- Compared to other marketing leadership roles, this position offers a high degree of strategic autonomy and category influence.
- Career progression may involve moving into global roles within the RTD category or other brand portfolios, with opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and innovation projects.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential and strategic influence, with a unique focus on transforming the RTD category in Great Britain.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive brand renovation strategy for a key RTD brand, including packaging redesign, innovation pipeline, and shopper marketing activation.
- Leading a cross-functional team to launch a new RTD product, from concept development and consumer testing to commercialization and in-market execution.
- Conducting a comprehensive category review and strategic realignment, including consumer segmentation, channel optimization, and media mix allocation.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, innovative, and cross-functional nature of the Head of Marketing - RTD role, requiring a strong focus on consumer engagement, brand building, and commercial execution.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the top priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role fit into the broader marketing organization and Diageo's global RTD strategy?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for success in this role, and how will progress be measured?
- How does Diageo support the professional development and growth of its marketing leaders?
- What are the key challenges facing the RTD category in Great Britain, and how can this role drive meaningful impact?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions help candidates understand the role's priorities, fit within the organization, and potential for growth and impact.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, with a focus on strategic thinking, leadership, and commercial acumen.
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your leadership, strategic, and commercial skills.
- Research Diageo's brand portfolio and RTD category to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to transforming the RTD category and driving brand growth.
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
