Diageo India Appoints Sameer Chugh as New General Counsel

Beverage major Diageo India, based in India, has appointed corporate lawyer Sameer Chugh as its new General Counsel, effective December 1, 2026.

Sameer Chugh will assume the critical role of General Counsel for Diageo India, succeeding Shobhana Nikam, who is stepping down on October 31, 2026, for personal reasons. In his new capacity, Chugh will report directly to Praveen Someshwar, CEO & President, India, with a dotted line reporting to Global General Counsel Randall Ingber. He will also be a member of both the India Executive Committee and the Global Legal Leadership Team. Chugh brings over three decades of extensive legal expertise across diverse industries, encompassing corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), litigation, and regulatory affairs. His previous roles include Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Games24x7 and Group General Counsel at Bharti Group, alongside senior leadership positions at British Telecom, Essar Group, and Cummins, as well as private practice experience.

This appointment is highly significant for Diageo India, a major player in the beverage industry, as it brings a seasoned legal professional to a pivotal leadership position. A General Counsel with Chugh's broad experience is essential for navigating the complex and highly regulated Indian market, which involves intricate excise laws, advertising regulations, corporate compliance, and potential M&A activities. His dual reporting structure underscores the increasing importance of integrating regional legal strategies with global corporate governance frameworks within multinational corporations. The legal context for this role involves ensuring compliance with the Companies Act, 2013, various state-specific excise laws, advertising codes, competition law, and consumer protection regulations, all of which are critical for a company like Diageo India.

Key parties involved in this development are Diageo India (the appointing company), Sameer Chugh (the appointee), Shobhana Nikam (the outgoing General Counsel), Praveen Someshwar (CEO & President, India), and Randall Ingber (Global General Counsel). Chugh's prior employers, Games24x7 and Bharti Group, are also relevant in understanding his extensive background.

For legal practitioners, this appointment highlights the evolving and strategic importance of the General Counsel role within large multinational corporations operating in complex jurisdictions like India. It underscores the demand for in-house legal leaders who possess not only deep legal expertise across multiple domains but also strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to executive-level decision-making. External counsel should note this change as it may influence Diageo India's legal strategy and preferred engagement models, necessitating an understanding of Chugh's professional background and strategic priorities.