Ramon Laguarta (born 1963 in Barcelona, Spain)[2] is a Spanish businessman who is the chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo.[3] He became CEO on 3 October 2018 after Indra Nooyi stepped down.[4] He is the sixth CEO in the company's history and the first Spanish CEO of a large American multinational company.[5][6]
Before joining PepsiCo he worked at Chupa Chups, a candy company based in Spain known for its lollipops.[9] Laguarta joined PepsiCo in January 1996.[citation needed] His first role was in the company's European business, and in 2014 became the CEO of the entire Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) sector.[10] While working in Europe, Laguarta helped lead the acquisition in 2010 of Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann, a deal valued at $5.4 billion, the company's second largest acquisition after its purchase of Quaker Oats in 2001.[11]
Laguarta was named president of PepsiCo in September 2017. He oversaw PepsiCo's Global Category Groups, its Global Operations, Corporate Strategy and Public Policy & Government Affairs functions.[5] As a result of the promotion, he moved to the United States.[1]
Laguarta was unanimously voted in as PepsiCo's next CEO on 6 August 2018, the same day Indra Nooyi announced she was stepping down.[12][13][14] He officially took over the role on 3 October 2018 and became Chairman of the Board of Directors on 1 February 2019.[14] Laguarta has been working at PepsiCo for over 20 years, his previous roles including CEO for Europe Sub-Saharan Africa, president for the PepsiCo Eastern Europe Region, commercial Vice President for PepsiCo Europe, general manager for Iberia Snacks and Juices and General Manager for Greece Snacks.[15] Since becoming CEO of PepsiCo, Laguarta established three priorities to lead the company: Accelerating the company's rate of organic revenue growth; becoming a stronger company; and becoming a better company.[16]
As part of making PepsiCo a better company, Laguarta has been tasked with implementing a new purpose behind PepsiCo's sustainability agenda: helping to build a more sustainable food system.[promotion?] Under his leadership, the company is focusing its efforts and goals around agriculture, water usage, plastics, products, climate change and human rights.[17]
Ramon Laguarta at a PepsiCo Community Event
This includes the company's effort to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent for their entire value chain over a 2015 baseline (roughly 30-35 million metric tons of GHG),[18][non-primary source needed] as well as their goals by 2025 to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable and use 25% recycled plastic content in all plastic packaging.[citation needed] Laguarta has also led attempts to reduce waste by acquiring SodaStream.[19] Through the expansion of SodaStream's business, the need for an estimated 67 billion plastic bottles will be avoided through 2025.[20][dead link]
In 2023, Laguarta's total compensation from PepsiCo was $26.2 million, up 8% from the previous year and representing a CEO-to-median worker pay ratio of 648-to-1.[21]
In addition to being a member of the PepsiCo Board of Directors,[22] Ramona is a director of Visa Inc.[23] He is the Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Board of Stewards for the Food Systems Initiative.[24]
