Sameer Chugh appointed General Counsel of Diageo India

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

Chugh succeeds Shobhana Nikam, who has decided to step down for personal reasons, effective October 31, 2026, following a four-year tenure.

Bengaluru-based Chugh will report directly to Praveen Someshwar, CEO & President, India with a dotted line reporting to Global General Counsel Randall Ingber. He will also join the India Executive Committee and the Global Legal Leadership Team.

Chugh brings over 30 years of legal expertise across industries, spanning corporate governance, M&A, litigation and regulatory affairs. 

He joins Diageo from Games24x7, where he served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. 

Previously, he was the Group General Counsel at Bharti Group, overseeing legal strategy across multiple businesses and jurisdictions.

His career also includes senior leadership roles at British Telecom, Essar Group, and Cummins, alongside private practice at leading law firms.