Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi to step down after a dozen sparkling years in charge

Bengaluru — PepsiCo said on Monday that Indra Nooyi would step down as its longtime CEO, handing over the reins to company veteran Ramon Laguarta at a time the beverage maker navigates a shrinking global fizzy drinks market.

Laguarta will take over on October 3 and will also join the board, the company said in a statement.

A 22-year veteran of PepsiCo, Laguarta oversaw global operations, corporate strategy, public policy and government affairs in his role as president. He has also served as CEO of the company’s Europe Sub-Saharan Africa division.

He was elevated to president in September 2017 and was widely expected to succeed Nooyi, though at the time of his appointment Nooyi said she would remain CEO "for the foreseeable future".

"Ramon Laguarta is exactly the right person to help build on PepsiCo’s strong position and success. He has been a critical partner and friend and I am positive that he will take PepsiCo to new and greater heights in the years to come," Nooyi tweeted on Monday.

Under Nooyi’s 12-year tenure as CEO, she has boosted sales to $63.5bn, up 80% from when she started. The company’s share price has risen 78% in the same period.

She is also largely credited with re-shaping Pepsi with tactical mergers and shifting to healthier drinks over sugary fizzy drinks — moving to juices and teas.

Recently, she has focused on reinvigorating sales of its marquee sodas by stepping up marketing efforts, in a bid to win market share from Coca-Cola Co.

"With a deep understanding of PepsiCo’s international operations, and a broader understanding of the total company portfolio in his role as president, we believe that Laguarta is well-placed to continue executing on PepsiCo’s current strategy," analysts at Cowen & Co said.

Nooyi will remain chair of the board until early 2019.

PepsiCo’s shares were up marginally in premarket trading on Monday.

Reuters