First lady CEO of india-Indra Nooyi

The world's second largest soft drink maker’s new chairperson would take over on October 1, 2006.


CHICAGO: Chennai-born Indra Nooyi was on Monday assigned the task of the Chief Executive Officer of Pepsico.

The 50-year-old Indra Nooyi will succeed Steve Reinemund, who would retire on May , 2007 to spend more time with his family.

The appointment would take effect from October 1, 2006.

Reinemund will be the executive chairman and also serve as a director till his retirement.

Indra Nooyi was made president and chief financial officer of Pepsico in 1994.

Nooyi’s elevation to the CEO’s post makes Pepsico the 2nd major US firm after grain maker Archer Daniels Midland Co. to be headed by a woman. Patricia Woertz took over as Archer Daniels Midland Co’s chief executive in April.

Pepsico named Richard Goodman, 57, chief financial officer of PepsiCo to replace Nooyi as its CFO, while Hugh Johnston, 44, will be elevated to the newly created post of executive vice president, operations. Hugh Johnston is currently senior vice president, transformation at Pepsico. Pepsico is not filling up the post of President.

After Reinemund took over as Chairman and Chief Executive of Pepsico in May, 2001, the firm’s notable acquisition was that of Quaker Oats Co., in a deal valued at $13 billion.
Before PepsiCo:


A short stint at Mettur Beardsell and later at Johnson & Johnson where she helped in launching 'Stayfree', a brand of sanitary napkins.

Later, in the US, she started her career with The Boston Consulting Group, from where she moved on to become Director- international corporate strategy projects in six years.

Joined Motorola as business development executive for its automotive and industrial electronics group. She became the vice-president and director of corporate strategy and planning before she quit.
At PepsiCo:


Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 as senior vice-president of strategic planning and development, and became the Chief Financial Officer in May 2001. Major achievements of Nooyi at PepsiCo:


Played a vital role in starting Tricon.

Oversaw the sale of Pepsico’s Yum! Brands - comprising Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC

Managed the $13.3-billion Quaker Oats Co acquisition in 2001 which added the Gatorade brand to the Pepsi portfolio

Took the lead in the $3.3-billion Tropicana Juices acquisition in 1998.
Other accomplishments:


Named on the Wall Street Journal's list of 50 women to watch in 2005.

Ranked #11 on Fortune Magazines list of most powerful women in Business.

Is the fifth CEO and the first woman CEO in PepsiCo's 41-year history.

Successor Fellow at Yale Corporation

Serves on the board of directors of several organisations, including Motorola, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the International Rescue Committee, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

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