Gareth Williams

Gareth Williams was with Grand Metropolitan and Diageo for 30 years. He was appointed Group Human Resources Director for Diageo in 1999 and was a member of the Diageo Executive Committee through a period which saw the company grow significantly both organically and through ground breaking acquisitions, resulting in an organisation of over 30,000 people operating in over 80 countries and selling in most countries of the world. He also had oversight responsibility for Corporate Relations during this period. He stepped down from his HR role in 2013 and supported the new CEO through his first year in that role.

Gareth joined Grand Metropolitan in 1984 in its Brewing Division and moved through a number of operational and group positions. From 1990 to the end of 1994 he lived in Connecticut, holding a position in Grand Metropolitan’s North American Spirits and Wine division (IDV), including the top HR position, before returning to the UK to become Group Organisation and Management Development Director. In 1996, he became HR Director for IDV’s global business and in 1997 took the same position in the combined Wines and Spirits business, which resulted from the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo.

Prior to joining Grand Metropolitan, he spent 10 years with Ford of Britain in a number of personnel/industrial relations positions at locations including Dagenham, Dunton and Halewood. Post Diageo, Gareth has pursued a plural career.

He joined the leadership consultancy YSC as a Non-Executive Director in 2013, subsequently chairing the business until Livingbridge sold its interest to Graphite in 2017.

In 2014, he joined the Board of WNS holdings, a US listed global business focused on partnering with businesses to meet their changing business process needs efficiently and effectively through over 25,000 employees. Until the completion of his nine-year period in 2023 he served as a Non-Executive Director of the Board, a member of the Nomination Committee and Chair of the remuneration Committee.

In 2014, he joined the Board of SAGA at its IPO and supported the transition to a full public listing. He served on all the Board Committees [Audit, Risk, Nomination] and chaired the Remuneration Committee. He stepped down from the Saga Board in 2021.

Gareth is a Board Trustee of Cicily Saunders International, a world leader in research and education for Palliative care, and is also a BUPA association member.

He was educated at Warwick University and holds a degree in Economics.