Indra Nooyi elected Pepsico chairperson

Indian-American corporate honcho Indra Nooyi, known as one of the most powerful women in the US, has been elected as the chairwoman of PepsiCo, the board of directors of the company announced today.

Nooyi, 51, is currently chief executive officer of the $32 billion global convenient food and beverage company, a role she assumed on October 1, 2006.

Nooyi will assume the position when the current chairman Steven Reinemund, 58, retires on May 2, as per his announcement last August.

"I'm incredibly honoured by the board's confidence, and extraordinarily fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Steve Reinemund and all my illustrious predecessors," Nooyi said.

"PepsiCo is on a sound strategic course with solid momentum thanks to Steve's leadership, and along with every PepsiCo associate, I'm looking forward to building on the lasting legacy created by him, Roger, Wayne, Don and Herman," she said.

Nooyi becomes the fifth chairman and CEO in PepsiCo's 42-year history, following Reinemund (2001- 2006), Roger Enrico (1996-2001), Wayne Calloway (1986-1996) and Donald Kendall (1971-1986.) Herman Lay served as PepsiCo's first chairman (1965-1971), while Kendall was first CEO.

Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 and directed worldwide strategy for over a decade. She was the primary architect of PepsiCo's restructuring and transformation, including the merger with Quaker Oats and the acquisition of Tropicana, which added some of the world's strongest health and wellness brands to PepsiCo's portfolio.(PTI)