Ramon Laguarta: The Visionary Behind PepsiCo’s Global Growth

By KoinaWednesday July 16, 2025

Source: thenewsmen

Have you ever had a Pepsi, Lay’s Chips, or Gatorade?
If so, then you’ve experienced the work of Ramon Laguarta, the CEO of PepsiCo. He’s the person that runs PepsiCo, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. Under his leadership, the growth trajectory is positive, and developments are made towards becoming more sustainable and reaching more consumers globally.

This article will help you discover:

Who is Ramon Laguarta?
Where did he come from, and how did he grow up?
How did he become CEO of PepsiCo?
What has he done to reshape PepsiCo?
What are his goals, and how does he build successful teams?
What does PepsiCo growth look like under his leadership?

Ramon Laguarta Biography: Early Life and Education

Ramon Laguarta was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1963. He grew up in a multicultural city in which the locals spoke both Spanish and Catalan. From an early age, Ramon enjoyed learning about how businesses operate and how their decisions impact people’s lives.

He attended ESADE Business School in Barcelona, which is recognized as one of the best business schools in Spain. While there, he studied business administration, which helped him understand how to run a company and manage its operations. His interest in business evolved from understanding how a company makes decisions and how its strategies and decisions change over a long time period.

After completing his degree, he pursued further education in the United States. He earned a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona, which helped him understand how businesses operate in various countries and cross-cultural engagement.

His education gave him the information and confidence to work in large international corporations and helped him prepare for possible leadership roles in the future. He believed in education as a means of personal development and a way to contribute to the world.

Ramon Laguarta’s Experience at PepsiCo

Source: eleconomista

Ramon Laguarta began his career at PepsiCo in 1996, within the company’s European operations. These early years were difficult for Ramon’s professional journey, as he worked with various teams across Europe and learned how the brand operated across different market environments. Ramon quickly distinguished himself as a capable leader and developed a strong understanding of how to succeed in a global business. As Ramon proved his abilities, he was given bigger jobs with more responsibilities. He managed PepsiCo’s businesses across the European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa, often working with governments and regulators to help build and grow PepsiCo’s business while adapting to regional cultures and needs. Under his guidance, PepsiCo introduced new products and improved its reach in many countries.

Ramon was promoted to president of PepsiCo in 2017, which made him one of the most important leaders in the organization. This role allowed him to work on the company’s big-picture goals. Just one year later, in 2018, Ramon was appointed CEO of PepsiCo, making him the sixth CEO in the long history of the company and the first from outside the United States.

As PepsiCo CEO, Ramon now leads an organization that:

Sells food and beverages in over 200 countries
Employs over 300,000 people around the world
Has some of the world’s most loved brands, including Pepsi, Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker Oats, Lay’s, and Doritos

PepsiCo Global Growth under Ramon Laguarta

Ramon has helped expand the company in several ways. He focused on:

1. Expanding Into New Markets: PepsiCo has expanded into more areas, such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia, by selling more products. Ramon is excited to grow the number of people around the world that can enjoy their snacks and drinks.

2. Healthy Product Options: Ramon is aware that people want healthier food today and, consequently, has committed PepsiCo to make product offerings with less sugar and more natural ingredients.

3. Digital Transformation: PepsiCo is open to leveraging technology with his leadership. They will use an ongoing ‘digital transform’ process by continuing to apply data to learn what people want and how to enhance their delivery and packaging.

4. Sustainability Goals: A few key items Ramon has made important commitments to include responsibility for the environment. PepsiCo has made a commitment to reduce plastic waste, to conserve water, and to improve their manufacturing facility’s use of energy sources through clean or renewable energy.

Leadership Style of the PepsiCo CEO

Source: nlpc

Ramon Laguarta is a deliberate and thoughtful strategic leader. The following characteristics describe his leadership style:

Listening First: He listens to employees and customers to learn what they need.
People-First: He is a “people-first” leader who thinks about how to promote his employees’ development opportunities.
Action-Oriented: He believes in moving fast and being bold in decision-making.
Global: He is intentional about cultures around the globe and offering products to coordinate with people’s needs.

He believes PepsiCo should pursue profit with purpose, “the double bottom line,” and provide profit while continuing to contribute to people and the planet.

PepsiCo Growth Strategy under Ramon Laguarta

PepsiCo is not just a beverage company today; under Ramon, the business strategy is evolving to be a total food and beverage company.

Here is how:

Investing in Local Brands: In many markets, PepsiCo is providing support for small, local food brands.
E-commerce: Making products available for purchase via apps and websites.
Greater Focus on Snacks: Snacks now represent a large portion of the business.
Plant-Based Products: PepsiCo is developing healthier, plant-based products.

Achievements of Ramon Laguarta as CEO of PepsiCo

Ramon Laguarta has made a progression in PepsiCo since he became CEO. Over the years, revenue and profit have steadily grown, and he has also created great relationships with customers and employees alike, in turn sparking a positive movement in the work environment. There is more trust with people regarding PepsiCo, while having an improved brand image across the world. Ramon is also respected for caring about healthier products, environmental sustainability, equity in the workplace, and also growing the business.

Conclusion

Ramon Laguarta is a role model of what it looks like to be a global leader in the modern world. As the CEO of PepsiCo, he is helping to ensure that the company will grow in a sustainable, responsible, and intelligent way, caring for customers, employees, and the planet. His rise from Spain to the top of one of the world’s largest companies is an incredibly powerful narrative. With his leadership, PepsiCo’s global aspirations are seeking new heights, bringing good food and drinks to everyone, everywhere. Ramon’s story teaches us that great leadership is about purpose.