October 3, 2018, marked the start of Ramon Laguarta’s tenure as the sixth chief executive officer of PepsiCo. This transition established him as the first Spanish individual to lead a large American multinational corporation. A long-term veteran of the organization, he assumed the additional role of board chairperson on February 1, 2019.
Early Career and Education
Raised in Barcelona, Laguarta earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from ESADE Business School in 1985. He followed this in 1986 with a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His professional history includes early tenures at SEAT and the Spanish confectioner Chupa Chups before he transitioned to PepsiCo in January 1996.
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Laguarta spent over two decades climbing the corporate hierarchy. His progression included roles such as general manager for Greece Snacks and Iberia Snacks and Juices, and president for the Eastern Europe region. In 2014, he reached the position of CEO for the Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa sector. During this time, he helped manage the $5.4 billion acquisition of the Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann in 2010. By September 2017, he was named president of PepsiCo, a promotion that required his relocation to the United States.
Leadership Priorities
Since taking the helm, Laguarta has pursued three primary objectives: accelerating organic revenue growth, strengthening the company, and improving its corporate standing. His sustainability strategy includes a goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent relative to a 2015 baseline. He also implemented initiatives aiming to make all packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025. Acquisitions such as SodaStream reflect his strategy to reduce consumer waste.
Corporate Governance and Compensation
Beyond his responsibilities at PepsiCo, Laguarta serves as a director for Visa Inc. and acts as co-chair of the World Economic Forum's board of stewards for the Food Systems Initiative. In 2023, his total compensation from PepsiCo was reported as $26.2 million, representing an 8 percent increase from the prior year and a 648-to-1 CEO-to-median worker pay ratio.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Barcelona
- Citizenship: Spain
- Education: ESADE Business School, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- Joined PepsiCo: 1996
- Languages: Spanish, Catalan, English, French, German, Greek
- Current positions: Chairperson and CEO, PepsiCo; Director, Visa Inc.
Questions readers ask
What was Ramon Laguarta's first role at PepsiCo?
He began his career with the company in 1996 working in its European business division.
What major acquisition did Laguarta oversee while working in Europe?
He helped lead the 2010 acquisition of the Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann.
Achievements
- Affiliated with PepsiCo, Chupa Chups and SEAT
- Educated at ESADE and Thunderbird School of Global Management
