Major snack and beverage company PepsiCo India announced on Friday that Jagrut Kotecha has been named CEO.
After serving seven years in India, Ahmed El Sheikh will assume the role of CEO for the Middle East Business Unit in March, and he will be succeeded by him.
Currently serving as PepsiCo‘s Chief Commercial Officer for Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia (AMESA), Kotecha
According to PepsiCo CEO for Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia Eugene Willemsen, “India continues to be a key market for PepsiCo, playing a crucial role in our global strategy.” Ahmed has played a key role in our company’s transformation over the past six years, inspiring innovation, and leading the team through difficult situations. Under his direction, innovative products and numerous community-oriented projects were launched, and I am excited to collaborate with him in his new role. Accompanying Jagrut to the India executive team excites me as well.
The major in snacks and beverages claimed that this leadership change has been carefully thought out and that it was announced to the staff of the India office on Thursday along with other leadership changes that will take place throughout the AMESA area.
“Having spent the last 30 years as a member of the PepsiCo family, I have personally seen PepsiCo India’s unwavering dedication to quality and innovation. This dedication has strengthened our position as an industry leader and accelerated our expansion in the Indian market. I am eager to carry out our objective and ensure ongoing success and expansion in the Indian market as I assume this new role, Kotecha continued.
Kotecha holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Mumbai and obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). His career started in sales with Cadbury India in 1992 and continued with PepsiCo India in 1994, where he had a variety of sales and marketing positions. He worked for Western Snack as the marketing manager until 1999, when he was promoted to regional sales manager in 1997.
Kotecha has held a variety of positions throughout the years, such as director of sales for foods at ASPACD till 2002, commercial director in the Philippines, general manager in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei/Pacific, and Mongolia between 2006 and 2010, and regional sales position in Thailand from 2000 to 2002. From 2011 until January 2020, he served in a number of important roles, including those of General Manager-Country Manager in Thailand, Vice President-India Region for Snacks Category, Vice President Global Affordable Platforms-Foods, and, most recently, Senior Vice President Chief Commercial Officer for AMESA.
