Kellye Walker, former chief legal officer at BJ's Wholesale Club, joined international drinks giant Diageo this month as its new US general counsel.

Walker replaced Wally Martinez, who left the company last year to become managing partner of US firm Hunton & Williams. Before joining BJ's Wholesale, a $7bn (£3.6bn) wholesale chain club, Walker was a lawyer with Boston firm Hill & Barlow, which dissolved in 2002. She will report to global general counsel Tim Proctor and become a member of Diageo's North America executive team.

The drinks company, which has an annual turnover of around £9bn and operates in more than 200 countries, underwent a shake-up of its 70-strong legal department last year which saw it hire its first legal counsel in India and boost its team in China.