FDBusiness.com

PepsiCo has announced a number of senior management changes following the decision of John Compton, current president, to depart the global soft drinks and snacks group after 30 years. PepsiCo Europe chief executive Zein Abdalla has consequently been appointed as president of PepsiCo, while PepsiCo executive Enderson Guimaraes takes over as head of the European business.

During Zein Abdalla’s tenure at the European the division revenues grew from $7 billion to $14 billion, and he led the transformation of the European portfolio, shifting it towards the higher-growth markets in the region, and along the way also helped PepsiCo become the largest food and beverage company in Russia.

Zein Abdalla.

In his new role as president, Zein 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.

Enderson Guimaraes will replace Abdalla as chief executive of PepsiCo Europe. Enderson Guimaraes currently serves as president of PepsiCo’s Global Nutrition Group. Prior to joining PepsiCo in 2011, Guimaraes served as executive vice president of Electrolux and chief executive officer of its major appliances business for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, based in Belgium.

Guimaraes’ Global Nutrition Group successor will be named shortly. Abdalla and Guimaraes will report to Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive of PepsiCo.