Diageo names Wilson Del Socorro to APAC corporate relations director

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Diageo has named Wilson Del Socorro (pictured) as its corporate relations director for APAC. He will also be part of the APAC leadership team led by Sam Fischer, president for APAC and global travel, and will report to Dan Mobley, global corporate relations director, Diageo. Socorro was formerly the global director of government affairs, based in London.

In his new role, Socorro will be based in Singapore and will work with the regional and market teams to lead Diageo’s corporate relations agenda covering public policy and government affairs, communications, and its responsibility and sustainability efforts. Paul Kelleher previously helmed the role.

He will also play a leadership role in driving Diageo's Spirit of Progress 2030 ambition in the region, the company's 10-year action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. Diageo is an alcohol beverage company that owns brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness.

Diageo's spokesperson told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that Sorocco replaces Paul Kelleher, who has moved on to another company. Meanwhile, Rachel Robertson, corporate relations director for GB and Europe at Diageo, will take on Sorocco's former role as global director of government affairs.

Socorro has been with Diageo for almost 10 years covering a range of roles in Asia and the UK. During his time as global director of government affairs, he led an international team of policy experts and economists to develop and implement the company’s global strategy on public policy, international trade, and regulatory affairs. Prior to that, Socorro was with KPMG Australia providing public policy and government relations advisory services to multinational clients across a range of industries.

Sam Fischer, outgoing president, APAC and global travel at Diageo, said that Socorro brings with him extensive public policy experience and industry knowledge as well as a strong track record of leading teams beyond borders. “I am confident that Socorro will be influential in helping to drive the next chapter of growth for us in APAC supporting our markets and partnering with our network of stakeholders as we continue to deliver on performance and create a positive impact in the communities within which we operate," he added.

Separately, Diageo saw its director of corporate relations, Southeast Asia, Jonathan Sanchez, leave to join WPP as VP, communications last October. He was previously with the company for two years and has worked at Unilever, Edelman, JWT and Havas.

Meanwhile,the company opened up a collaboration centre that will serve as a destination to uncover the latest industry trends, category insights and emerging technologies. The centre, located in the US, is designed to help Diageo’s customers, distributors and agency partners unlock new opportunities and address the challenges of future-proofing the beverage alcohol space, keeping pace with new consumption occasions and a rapidly evolving consumer landscape.

The centre complements Diageo’s existing global experience centre located in London, and is strategically positioned adjacent to Diageo’s North America Innovation Lab, offering visitors additional collaborative opportunities with innovation lab team members, and rounding out a campus focused on forward-looking development.

Over the course of a day, guided by Diageo’s team of beverage alcohol experts, visitors will journey through eight unique rooms. Blending the analogue with the digital, state of the art facilitation technologies and methods will enable attendees to see and live the future, taking a first step toward responding to the transformational wave of change on the beverage alcohol industry’s horizon.

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