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PepsiCo has implemented a significant restructuring of its executive leadership team, with six promotions and three high-profile departures. The moves signal the company's strategic prioritisation of emerging markets and operational consolidation across its global food divisions.

Key leadership appointments

1. Regional consolidation

   
   

   • Alexandre Carreteiro moves from CEO of Brazil Foods to oversee Brazil and South Cone Foods, reflecting PepsiCo's doubled investment in South American snack manufacturing infrastructure through 2026.

     
     

   • Silviu Popovici's remit grows from Europe CEO to lead combined Europe, Middle East and Africa Foods and Bottling Operations, aligning with the company's Q4 2024 investor commitment to optimise cross-regional production networks.

     
     

2. Commercial innovation focus

   
   

   • Roberto Martinez transitions from Mexico Foods president to dual role as international chief commercial officer and CEO of new revenue streams, a newly created position expected to drive alternative protein and AI-driven supply chain initiatives.

     
     

3. North American alignment

   
   

   • Steven Williams moves from Foods North America CEO to PepsiCo North America CEO, consolidating beverage and snack operations under one leader as the company prepares for unified USDA compliance strategies.

   
   

Strategic implications

The promotions create three distinct operational hubs:

• LatAm Foods (Santilli)

• EMEA (Popovici) 

• International Beverages (Willemsen)

Industry analysts suggest the structure mirrors manufacturing footprint changes, with PepsiCo's 2024 annual report showing 42% of capital expenditures directed toward emerging market facilities.

Notable departures

• Eric Hanson (strategic partnerships SVP) exits March 24 amid shifting alliance priorities following PepsiCo's $800m investment in automated vending partnerships.

  
  

• Vikram Somaya (chief data officer) and Wern-Yuen Tan (APAC CEO) depart as the company centralises analytics functions under regional operations leaders.

The restructuring follows PepsiCo's Q1 2025 earnings call emphasis on 'regional autonomy with centralised innovation' – a model increasingly adopted by food conglomerates facing tariff uncertainties and ingredient sourcing challenges.

Competitor Mondelez implemented similar structural changes in February 2025.