PepsiCo's Jagrut Kotecha emerging as top contender for CEO role in India operations

Beverage and snacks maker PepsiCo's senior vice president and chief commercial officer at its AMESA (Asia, Middle East and Africa) region, Jagrut Kotecha, is now the frontrunner to head India operations, multiple executives aware of the developments said.

"Kotecha is a top contender for the role of president and chief executive officer for its India business now, as his decades-plus experience in PepsiCo's snacks business is being preferred by the global leadership," one of the executives said.

Earlier, PepsiCo India's current senior vice president and general manager, beverages, George Kovoor, was believed to be taking over the top role to succeed current president Ahmed ElSheikh. "However, PepsiCo's snacks business has been facing intense competition, while volumes too have declined in India, which the company wants to get back. Hence the preference for a chief with extensive experience in foods, with PepsiCo's focus mainly on bolstering the snacking business," another executive said.


An email seeking comment from PepsiCo India remained unanswered till press time.

"On the other hand, with beverages bottling and distribution now almost entirely managed by its franchise bottling partner Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL), PepsiCo's role in beverages remains mainly selling concentrate to VBL and marketing," the executive added.

The New York-based company said in its earnings call in the quarter to September 2023 that PepsiCo's snacks business, which makes Lays and Doritos tortilla chips, declined to mid-single digits in the quarter.

Kotecha held the post of vice-president of, snacks category, India region, between 2016 and 2019.