Top mgt rejig at PepsiCo India; Punita Lal to head JV with Tata

According to sources, Lal, who was responsible for PepsiCo's beverage brands in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, will now take up the responsibility of steering the JV, which was announced in April this year.

Comments from Pepsico India could not be obtained as officials did not respond to repeated calls and text messages sent.

The sources, however, said in other reshuffle of senior management in the company, Praveen Someshwar, who is the Chief Operating Officer of the bottling operations, will now head the beverages business of the company.

PepsiCo India Foods Marketing Director Deepika Warrier will now become the Marketing Head of the beverages division reporting directly to Someshwar.Moreover, Vidur Vyas, who was responsible for 'Indian snacks' division, will now become the overall marketing head of the food arm, Fritolay.

The management rejig comes at a time when PepsiCo is looking to triple its business in India in five years period, when the global CEO Indra Nooyi announced it in her India visit in 2008. PepsiCo had also announced an investment of USD 500 million in India, which was later stepped up by another USD 100 million last year.

The JV with Tata Tea was announced with the aim of exploring business opportunities in the area of non-carbonated ready-to-drink beverages, focused on health and enhanced wellness.

The two firms had also agreed not to make the JV conflicting with any existing arrangements of either party.