Ivan Menezes, Jonnie Walker Spirits Maker Diageo’s Indian Origin CEO, Passes Away

Ivan Manuel Menezes, the CEO of Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company, passed away on Wednesday. The reason for his death in London was not immediately known.

Abhishek Singhvi, Member of Rajya Sabha, was one of the first people to convey condolences on Twitter.

Singhvi said he was shocked and numbed to hear about the death of Menezes, who used to be his classmate at St. Columba’s School and St. Stephen’s College. He calls the Diageo CEO a “more gentle laid back” and “easy going soul” that is difficult to find. Singhvi used to joke with Menezes about how, despite having such a gentle nature, he could head a multinational company like Diageo.

Menezes, a 64-year-old executive set to retire at the end of this month, had been admitted to the hospital for various conditions, including a stomach ulcer, according to a statement issued by the company on June 5.