PepsiCo Names Key Personnel Changes

PepsiCo’s current president, John Compton, has chosen to depart PepsiCo to become CEO of Pilot Flying J Oil Corporation, based in Knoxville, Tenn., Compton’s native state.

 

Effective immediately, PepsiCo Europe CEO, Zein Abdalla, is named the company’s new president.

 

PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi calls Compton “a humble and collaborative leader” who “made countless positive contributions to this company.”

 

In announcing the appointment of Abdalla as PepsiCo's president, she says, "We have drawn from our strong and seasoned cadre of business leaders in appointing Zein Abdalla as president. [He] has demonstrated outstanding business and operational results as the leader of our European sector. During his tenure the division grew revenues from $7 billion to $14 billion; he led the transformation of the European portfolio, shifting it towards the higher-growth markets in the region; and along the way he also helped PepsiCo become the largest food and beverage company in Russia."

 

In his new role as president, Abdalla will oversee PepsiCo's global category groups (Global Beverages, Global Snacks and Global Nutrition), Global Operations (IT, Global Procurement, Supply Chain and Productivity), Global Marketing Services and Corporate Strategy. Working with the geographic business units, Abdalla's team will drive innovation and brand building while significantly reducing the overall cost structure of the company. He will be based in Purchase, N.Y.

 

Enderson Guimaraes will replace Abdalla as CEO of PepsiCo Europe. Guimaraes currently serves as president of PepsiCo's Global Nutrition Group.

He will be based in Geneva.