Ramon Laguarta

Ramon Laguarta is the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, with annual net revenue exceeding $90 billion and a portfolio of 23 brands that each generate over $1 billion in annual sales. Born in 1964 in Barcelona, Spain, Laguarta earned an MBA from ESADE Business School and a degree from Arizona State University. He joined PepsiCo in 1996 and spent over two decades in international markets, leading operations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa before being named CEO in 2018. Laguarta succeeded Indra Nooyi, whose 12-year tenure had reshaped PepsiCo's portfolio toward healthier options. He has continued and accelerated this transformation under what he calls "PepsiCo Positive" (pep+) — a strategic framework that integrates sustainability and human capital into the company's core business strategy. This includes goals for reducing sugar and sodium across the portfolio, shifting to recycled and renewable packaging, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. His competitive advantage lies in PepsiCo's unique dual nature as both a snack food company (Frito-Lay is the most profitable snack division globally) and a beverage company. While the beverage side competes with Coca-Cola, the snack division — Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos — generates higher margins and more consistent growth. Laguarta has leveraged this balanced portfolio to deliver steadier performance than pure-play beverage companies during periods of shifting consumer preferences. Under Laguarta's leadership, PepsiCo has navigated significant inflationary pressure by exercising pricing power across its brand portfolio while investing in revenue growth management capabilities. He has expanded PepsiCo's presence in emerging markets, invested in direct-to-consumer channels, and acquired brands in adjacent categories. His international background gives him particular credibility in driving PepsiCo's growth in markets outside North America, where the majority of future volume growth is expected.