Frito-Lay promotes Ann Mukherjee to CMO

Ann Mukherjee, who has been promoted to chief marketing officer and senior vice president, for snack foods giant Frito-Lay on the promotion of Jaya Kumar as President of Quaker Foods (See: PepsiCo appoints Jaya Kumar as president, Quaker Foods & Snackswill put her in charge of Frito-Lay's marketing budget).

The snacks group spent $146 million advertising brands like Doritos and Cheetos in 2008, and $118 million through July of this year, excluding online, per Nielsen. Her consumer-centric programs for Doritos and Cheetos have won several of the highest awards in the advertising industry, including two Cannes Gold Lion Awards, the Grand Ogilvy Award and a Gold Effie Award.

Mukherjee joined Frito-Lay North America in 2005 as VP marketing. During her tenure, she was credited with revitalizing the company's $7 billion core brands, which include Lay's, Doritos, Tostitos and Fritos. Prior to that, she headed the marketing insights and innovation group for PepsiCo's convenience foods division, located in Chicago.

Mukherjee also held posts at Kraft Foods and Diners Club.

Advertising Age named her as one of the top women in the industry to watch and Brandweek named her Marketer of the Year 2007. She holds a BA degree in economics and an MBA in finance, both from the University of Chicago.