Former Diageo Plc Chief Executive Officer Ivan Menezes has died after a brief illness. He was 63.

The longtime boss of the world’s biggest spirits maker had been hospitalized and was receiving treatment for medical conditions including a stomach ulcer, the company said Monday, when it appointed Debra Crew as interim CEO, several weeks before she was set to take over the role.

Menezes joined Diageo at its creation in 1997 and transformed it into the world’s biggest premium drinks company. The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky accounts for 10% of the UK’s total food and drinks exports.

“This is an incredibly sad day,” Chairman Javier Ferrán said in a statement Wednesday. “Ivan was undoubtedly one of the finest leaders of his generation.”