Diageo announces Simon Tamke's replacement

Diageo Australia has appointed Andrew Clarke as its new Commercial Director following the resignation of Simon Tamke.

Andrew, who will join Diageo in February, is a commercially astute senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience working in FMCG companies. He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Ingham’s Enterprises, Australia’s leading poultry company, which he joined in 2014 as Chief Operating Officer.

David Smith, Managing Director, Diageo Australia said, “Andrew is a big hitting commercial director who delivers results. He loves brands, people and customers and he’s going to be a great fit for the Diageo Australia business.”

Andrew began his career in the UK before moving to Australia in 2000. He was Sales Director of Arnott’s Biscuits from 2003 – 2005 and subsequently was Sales Director and then Regional President of Mars Australia. He then spent two years in the United States with Mars as Global President of their drinks business, before returning to Australia in 2014 to manage Ingham’s Enterprises.

Tamke took over the Commercial Director role at the end of 2015, following David Halliday’s move to Campari, but resigned last September.

A spokesperson for Diageo noted at the time that the decision was "a personal but difficult" one, as Simon had been originally planning to relocate to Sydney for the role, but had decided it was too disruptive for his family. He had been commuting from Adelaide to Sydney for almost a year when he handed in his resignation.