PepsiCo Inc. said it has appointed Jane Wakely executive vice president, chief consumer and marketing officer, as well as chief growth officer of the company's international foods business. The company also appointed Ram Krishnan, currently serving as chief commercial officer, to the newly created role of CEO of international beverages. Wakely and Krishnan both report to PepsiCo chairman and chief executive Ramon Laguarta.
Wakely will focus on driving growth by elevating PepsiCo's consumer-centricity, innovation, brand and marketing capabilities. As chief growth officer of international foods, Wakely is responsible for accelerating the positive choices pillar of pep+ (PepsiCo Positive)
Pep+ is the movement of the company's portfolio into new spaces that are better for the planet and people. Products are being developed with more diverse ingredients, such as plant-based proteins, nuts and seeds and whole grains.
Wakely joins PepsiCo with 28 years of marketing experience at Procter & Gamble and Mars, where since 2019 she served as lead chief marketing officer.
Krishnan, a 15-year PepsiCo veteran, will focus on driving growth for the international beverages business, including the company's international franchise bottlers, with an end-to-end focus on brand-building, innovation, supply chain, digitalization, talent and sustainability. Krishnan is charged with leading growth for the SodaStream and Beyond the Bottle businesses, as well as the Pepsi Lipton partnership, the company's joint venture with Unilever.
Krishnan's new role is effective Jan. 1. He continues his duties as chief commercial officer.
