Catherine Hearn joins the group on 1 July and replaces Geof Garwood, who retired last September.

She joined Guinness Brewing in June 1996 as employee relations and policy director, before becoming human resources director for some of the Guinness international markets.

Following the integration of Guinness Brewing and UDV, Hearn became human resources director of Diageo Business Services, where she has driven a redesign of business processes and established a new business services centre in Budapest.

Her career also includes seven years at London Transport.

Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said Hearn was clearly the calibre of person we were looking for.