Resignation-hit Pepsico rejigs top Indian management

Soft drinks major PepsiCo, hit by dwindling sales and the exit of several senior and mid-level executives, today announced two new appointments to its India region leadership team; with both appointments from within the company rather than outside.

Praveen Someshwar, currently chief executive of India Beverages, has been moved as CEO of India Foods to succeed Varun Berry, who quit last month; while Gautham Mukkavilli, currently senior vice president, global nutrition group, PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa, returns to India as chief executive of India Beverages in place of Someshwar.

Both Someshwar and Mukkavilli will be based at PepsiCo India's Gurgaon headquarters, and will report directly to Manu Anand, chairman of PepsiCo India Region.

''These appointments provide important new leadership experiences for two of our most valued senior executives and reflect our strong commitment to developing talent from within PepsiCo. All changes will be effective 1 June 2012. We are announcing them today in order to allow ample time for transition, while ensuring that we remain 100 per cent focused on achieving our 2012 business plans,'' said Anand in a statement today.

Someshwar will now be responsible for leading PepsiCo India's range of food brands, including the popular snack foods Kurkure, Lay's wafers, Uncle Chipps and Quaker Oats, along with the traditional snacks business under the Lehar brand. He will also lead the India Power of One (PO1) Council with responsibility to drive collaboration across the food and beverage businesses.

''Someshwar's move to India Foods – the largest foods business in PepsiCo's AMEA sector – after his very successful beverage stint, will enable him to gain experience in a large operating foods business as he continues in his career journey with PepsiCo,'' added Anand.