Ramon Laguarta

Early Life & Education

Ramón Laguarta was born in 1963 in Barcelona, Spain, where he spent his childhood and early education in the vibrant Catalan capital. Growing up in a cosmopolitan European city during a period of significant economic and social transformation in post-Franco Spain, Laguarta developed a global perspective and multilingual capabilities that would become defining characteristics of his leadership career.

Laguarta pursued his higher education at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, one of Europe's most prestigious business institutions. He graduated with both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in business administration in 1985. His education at ESADE provided him with a rigorous grounding in business strategy, finance, and international management, as well as exposure to the European business tradition of combining analytical rigor with humanistic values.

In 1986, Laguarta furthered his international education by earning a master's degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, then widely regarded as the premier institution for training global business leaders. This experience immersed him in American business culture while deepening his expertise in cross-cultural management and international commerce. Laguarta is multilingual, speaking English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German, and Greek — a remarkable linguistic range that reflects his genuinely international orientation.

Career Journey

Before joining PepsiCo, Ramon Laguarta began his career at Chupa Chups, the iconic Spanish candy company known worldwide for its lollipops. At Chupa Chups, he gained valuable experience in international business through assignments across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. This early exposure to diverse markets and cultures laid the groundwork for the global leadership skills that would define his later career.

Laguarta joined PepsiCo in January 1996 as Marketing Vice President for the company's Spain Snacks division. Over the next two decades, he built a distinguished career within PepsiCo, progressing through increasingly senior leadership roles across the company's European and international operations.

• Marketing Vice President, Spain Snacks (1996–2002) — Joined PepsiCo and established himself in the European snacks business
• General Manager, Eastern Europe (2002–2006) — Led PepsiCo's expansion in the rapidly growing Eastern European market
• President, Developing and Emerging Markets, Europe (2006–2012) — Oversaw growth strategy across developing markets in Europe
• CEO, Europe Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) (2014–2015) — Led the entire European and Sub-Saharan Africa region
• President, Europe Sub-Saharan Africa (2015–2017) — Continued leadership of the ESSA sector
• President, PepsiCo (2017–2018) — Promoted to company president, overseeing global operations
• Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo (2018–Present) — Named the sixth CEO in PepsiCo's history

Leadership at PepsiCo

On October 3, 2018, Ramon Laguarta became the chief executive officer of PepsiCo, succeeding Indra Nooyi, who had led the company for twelve years. He was named chairman of the board on February 1, 2019. Laguarta made history as the first Spanish-born CEO of a major American multinational company, and only the sixth CEO in PepsiCo's more than 50-year history.

As CEO, Laguarta has overseen a company with annual revenues exceeding $90 billion, a portfolio of 23 brands each generating more than $1 billion in annual retail sales, and operations in more than 200 countries and territories. PepsiCo's brands span beverages and convenient foods, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Lay's, Gatorade, Doritos, Tropicana, Quaker, and Frito-Lay.

Laguarta has focused on what he calls "Winning with Purpose" — a strategic framework that seeks to accelerate PepsiCo's growth while simultaneously making a positive impact on the planet and communities it serves. This vision encompasses four pillars: growing the business, becoming a faster and more agile organization, developing talent, and acting as a responsible corporate citizen.

Under Laguarta's leadership, PepsiCo has invested significantly in digital transformation, e-commerce capabilities, and direct-to-consumer channels. He has also led major portfolio restructuring efforts, including the separation of PepsiCo's North American juice and dairy brands into a new joint venture and strategic acquisitions to strengthen the company's position in fast-growing categories.

Key Achievements & Milestones

• Named sixth CEO of PepsiCo and the first Spanish-born CEO of a major American multinational
• Led PepsiCo to consistent top-line growth while expanding operating margins across the portfolio
• Helped lead the landmark $5.4 billion acquisition of Wimm-Bill-Dann, Russia's largest dairy and juice company, in 2010
• Oversaw the transformation of PepsiCo's digital and e-commerce capabilities, growing online sales significantly
• Launched the "Winning with Purpose" strategic framework integrating business growth with sustainability goals
• Expanded PepsiCo's sustainable agriculture practices and water stewardship programs globally
• Advanced PepsiCo's portfolio transformation toward healthier, more nutritious products
• Named Chairman of the Board in February 2019

Leadership Philosophy

Ramon Laguarta's leadership philosophy is deeply shaped by his international background and his belief that global companies must operate with both commercial ambition and social responsibility. He has articulated a vision for PepsiCo that goes beyond financial returns to encompass environmental sustainability, community impact, and employee development.

Central to Laguarta's approach is the concept of organizational speed and agility. He has pushed PepsiCo to become a faster, more responsive organization, reducing bureaucracy and empowering local teams to make decisions closer to the consumer. This emphasis on decentralized decision-making reflects his experience managing diverse markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where local knowledge and cultural sensitivity are essential for success.

Laguarta is also known for his emphasis on talent development and diversity. He has championed initiatives to increase representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions and has invested in training and development programs designed to build the next generation of PepsiCo leaders. He frequently speaks about the importance of creating an inclusive culture where employees feel empowered to bring their full selves to work.

His multilingual capabilities and cross-cultural experience give Laguarta a distinctive leadership presence. He is known for his ability to connect with employees, customers, and partners across cultural and linguistic boundaries, building trust and alignment in a highly diverse, global organization.

Industry Impact

Ramon Laguarta has been an influential voice in the consumer packaged goods industry, particularly in advocating for the integration of sustainability into core business strategy. Under his leadership, PepsiCo has set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water, and transitioning to sustainable packaging, establishing the company as a leader in corporate environmental responsibility.

His strategic vision has also influenced the broader CPG industry's approach to portfolio transformation. As consumer preferences shift toward healthier, more sustainable products, Laguarta has demonstrated that established CPG companies can evolve their portfolios while maintaining profitability and market leadership. His willingness to restructure PepsiCo's brand portfolio — including divesting legacy brands that no longer fit the company's strategic direction — has set a precedent for the industry.

Laguarta has also been a prominent advocate for the CPG industry's role in addressing global food security and nutrition challenges. He has spoken at international forums about the responsibility of large food companies to develop affordable, nutritious products that can help address malnutrition and food insecurity in developing markets.

Awards & Recognition

• First Spanish-born CEO of a major American multinational corporation
• Consistently ranked among the most influential CEOs in the global consumer goods industry
• Board member of Visa Inc.
• Recognized for advancing PepsiCo's sustainability leadership and corporate responsibility

Personal Life

Ramon Laguarta resides in the New York metropolitan area, near PepsiCo's global headquarters in Purchase, New York. Despite his decades of living and working outside Spain, Laguarta maintains strong ties to his Catalan roots and Barcelona heritage. His multilingual abilities — fluent in six languages — reflect a deep engagement with diverse cultures that goes beyond professional necessity.

Laguarta is known among colleagues for his approachable, humble leadership style and his genuine interest in understanding the perspectives of employees at all levels of the organization. He frequently visits PepsiCo operations around the world, engaging directly with frontline teams and local market leaders.

Vision for the Future

Ramon Laguarta has outlined an ambitious vision for PepsiCo's continued evolution as a global food and beverage leader. He sees significant opportunities in the growing demand for healthier snacking options, functional beverages, and sustainable products. He has committed to accelerating PepsiCo's innovation efforts to develop products that meet evolving consumer preferences while maintaining the taste and convenience that have made PepsiCo's brands iconic.

Laguarta has also emphasized the importance of digital transformation and data analytics in shaping PepsiCo's future. He envisions a company that uses advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to better understand consumer behavior, optimize supply chains, and personalize marketing. This digital-first approach is central to his strategy for maintaining PepsiCo's competitive advantage in an increasingly technology-driven consumer landscape.

On sustainability, Laguarta has set ambitious goals for PepsiCo to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and to transition to 100 percent recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable packaging. He views these commitments not as costs but as investments in PepsiCo's long-term competitiveness and relevance in a world where consumers and investors increasingly value environmental stewardship.