Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s first female CEO is stepping down soon

Mangalore Today News Network

USA, Aug 06: PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi is stepping down after 12 years, the company announced on Monday. Ms. Nooyi will step down in October after 12 years at the helm. The company announced Monday that Ramon Laguarta, the president, will become the new chief executive. Laguarta is taking over amid a decline in sales of Pepsi’s signature beverage in North America and as the company focuses on healthier drinks. 

 

She will be replaced by Ramon Laguarta, the company’s president. He will be the beverage maker’s sixth CEO.

Nooyi was the first female CEO in the company’s history. Her run will end on October 3 after 24 years with Pepsi, and she’ll remain chair of the board through early 2019, the company said.

"Leading PepsiCo has truly been the honor of my lifetime, and I’m incredibly proud of all we have done over the past 12 years to advance the interests not only of shareholders, but all our stakeholders in the communities we serve," Nooyi said in a statement.

Before joining Pepsi, Laguarta worked at Chupa Chups, a Spanish confectionary maker.

He’ll be taking over as CEO at a time when sales of Pepsi’s signature beverage are slumping in North America and the company focuses on healthier drinks.

In late 2016, PepsiCo pushed into the bottled-water market by launching LIFEWTR, kicking off the debut of the premium brand with a commercial at the 2017 Super Bowl. And in February, the company announced plans to launch a sparkling drink called Bubly, taking on LaCroix.

While she was the chief financial officer, Nooyi led PepsiCo through a restructuring that included the divesture of its restaurants into Yum Brands and a merger with Quaker Oats.