Get All Access for $5/mo

5 Things To Know About the New PepsiCo India CEO Jagrut Kotecha He will be superseding Ahmed El Sheikh, who held the position for seven years and will now be the CEO of its Middle East business unit. He will officially assume the position in March 2024

By Paromita Gupta

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Jagrut Kotecha, CEO, PepsiCo India

On Friday, PepsiCo India announced the appointment of Jagrut Kotecha as the new chief executive officer (CEO).

"This leadership change, reflecting PepsiCo's dynamic and forward-thinking global approach, has been meticulously planned and was communicated to the India office employees yesterday as part of a series of leadership changes across AMESA," said the company press release.

Here are 5 things to know about the new PepsiCo India CEO.

1. Educational background

Kotecha earned his B.E. Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering from the University of Mumbai and later went on to do his Master of Business Administration - MBA, Marketing from SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

2. The Cadbury Stint

Prior to starting his long-time association with multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation, he spent two years working with Cadbury in sales between 1992 - 1994.

3. A Three Decade Tryst

According to his LinkedIn profile, he joined PepsiCo India's sales and marketing division for five years before becoming the Director of Sales- Foods- ASPAC in 2000. Post that, he served as the Commercial Director- in the Philippines and General Manager for Malaysia/Singapore/Brunie/Pacific/Mongolia.

He was appointed as the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer -Amesa in 2020. "Having been part of the PepsiCo family for the past 30 years, I have witnessed firsthand the unwavering commitment of PepsiCo India to excellence and innovation. I am excited to drive forward our mission, ensuring continued success and growth in the Indian market," said Kotecha.

4. The FAIL Mindset

Kotecha stands by the principle- What does fail mean? It's our First Attempt In Learning. "If we take calculated risks, we will succeed and sometimes we will fail. And in those moments when you succeed, you'll be happy and when we fail, we'll be wise people. In any case, we will learn," he shared with the media in an interview.

5. Who will he succeed?

He will be superseding Ahmed El Sheikh, who held the position for seven years and will now be the CEO of its Middle East business unit. He will officially assume the position in March 2024.

Paromita Gupta

Entrepreneur Staff

Features Writer with Entrepreneur India

Covering news and trends in AI and Metaverse segments. An avid book reader running her personal blog on the side. You may reach me at paromita@entrepreneurindia.com. 
Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Marketing

4 Neuromarketing Hacks to Reach More People and Maximize Results

You don't need to be a neuroscientist or have a big budget to start upping your conversions immediately.

Growing a Business

Stop the Errors: Set a Review Process That Works

Mistakes make you look unprofessional and hurt your growth. Fix them today.

News and Trends

Tech Burner's Anarc Smartwatch Achieves INR 3 Cr Sales with USD 1 Mn Investment

Anarc features a patented octagonal design by Thought Over Design and Seymourpowell, with a medical-grade stainless steel body. It includes advanced technology like a Hisilicon chipset, AMOLED display, and seven-day battery life.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.