SEARCH: Global Category Director, Primary Packaging

The Search

Melium was engaged to appoint a Global Category Director – Primary Packaging, a high-impact leadership role responsible for a £1.6bn global spend across packaging categories including glass, cans, and closures. The position required:

• Ownership of the entire primary packaging value chain,

• The ability to innovate across cost, carbon, and cash dimensions,

• Leadership of a globally distributed team and stakeholder ecosystem,

• Transformation of supplier strategy and ESG performance at scale.

Candidates needed deep functional expertise, a strong record of strategy design and execution, and the gravitas to lead across a matrixed, multinational environment.

‍

S-CAP™ Tools Deployed

• Global Talent Landscape Mapping

• Critical Success Factor Framework (Technical + Behavioural)

• Value Proposition Co-creation with EVP and ESG Narrative Alignment

• Leadership Gravitas and Cultural Fit Assessment

• Behavioural Evaluation Matrix with GC Index Overlay

• Structured Stakeholder Engagement and Calibration

• Accountability-Driven Project Planning & Execution

‍

Research & Outreach

• Identified candidates across FMCG, consumer packaging, and tier-one suppliers with strategic procurement and sustainability transformation experience.

• Opened three talent streams: role-level candidates, succession potentials (-1), and referral benchmarking (+1).

• Mapped individuals with track records in global category strategy, ESG procurement, and supply chain innovation.

‍

Evaluation

• Assessed strategic acumen, supplier relationship capability, and cost/carbon/cash impact delivery.

• Focused on:

o Proven change leadership across packaging procurement,

o High EQ and ability to influence board-level stakeholders,

o Gravitas to operate across regional and global teams in a complex matrix structure.

‍

Process

Phase 1 Developed a market-tested value proposition aligned with Diageo’s procurement transformation ambitions. Stakeholder consultation sessions defined priority capabilities and behaviours.

Phase 2 Launched a multi-channel outreach campaign and conducted NDA-protected calibration calls with target prospects.

Phase 3 Led deep-dive technical and behavioural interviews with shortlisted candidates, benchmarking their performance across our proprietary evaluation matrix.

Phase 4 Integrated leadership style assessments and ESG alignment diagnostics to ensure role readiness and cultural fit.

‍

Result

Delivered a shortlist of five top-tier global category leaders within five weeks. Candidates brought a blend of packaging innovation, sustainability transformation, and procurement leadership across multinationals. The successful hire is now spearheading Diageo’s global packaging strategy, driving holistic value and enabling delivery of the company’s ambitious ESG targets.

‍

‍