Up to 150 roles at the Irish operation of drinks giant Diageo are at risk from a plan by the maker of Guinness to trim its costs globally by $1 billion (€866 million) over the next three years.The brewer behind the Guinness stout has told the Government that it plans to implement “collective redundancies” at its Irish operation. The Irish Times understands that about 150 roles here may be at risk from these cost-cutting measures. Diageo on Thursday confirmed it will initiate widespread cost-cutting measures across its operations and supply chains in an effort to improve its weaning profits. This is expected to result in thousands of jobs cut from its global workforce of 30,000.The Department of Enterprise said it received a notification on June 22nd of “proposed collective redundancies” by the global drinks giant. [ Guinness owner Diageo hunts for drinks ‘heavyweights’ in board revampOpens in new window ]The company currently employs about 1,200 people in Ireland across brewing and liqueur production, marketing, sales and commercial operations. Well-known Irish brands under its portfolio include Guinness, Bailey’s, Smithwicks’s ale and the Guinness Storehouse visitor facility.Diageo chief executive Dave Lewis said these measures instil “confidence that we can return Diageo to a business consistently creating value for its shareholders”.“There is hard work ahead, particularly in North America,” he said, “but we are confident we can deliver without taking a step back in operating profit.”Shares for the alcoholic beverage giant soared by 6.5 per cent on the London Stock Exchange once the news broke in advance of Lewis presenting more detailed plans to investors.The company, which also owns Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whiskey, has struggled to see growth in profits amid changing consumer tastes and increasing inflation pressures.On Thursday it released accounts for the 12 months up to July, which reported revenue amounting to $19.6 billion, a three per cent decrease from the 2025 financial year.The filings further show a 27 per cent decrease in the group’s reported operating profit down to $3.16 billion, which it owed to “exceptional restructuring costs and impairment charges.”Lewis said a “revised operating framework is being rolled out across Diageo and the changes are significant”.“As we close out the year I would like to put on record our appreciation for all Diageo colleagues and the way they have engaged with this change programme,” he said.Lewis, who has served as Diageo’s chief executive since January, said he met shareholders on Thursday afternoon “to share the progress we’ve made over the past six months” and “provide medium guidance”.Lewis declined to tell reporters in London how many jobs he expects will be cut. “Whilst the impacts are big, nobody’s saying to me this is the wrong thing to do,” he said.“The culture that Diageo wants is a winning culture. You need to get back to being proud and winning,” he said.