**PepsiCo India Appoints Saakshi Verma Menon as New CMO for Foods**
PepsiCo India has announced the appointment of Saakshi Verma Menon as the new Chief Marketing Officer for its foods division, succeeding Anshul Khanna, who is transitioning to a different role within the company. Menon, who is part of the India leadership team, will spearhead the marketing strategy for PepsiCo’s food brands, focusing on driving strategic growth.
In a LinkedIn post, Menon expressed her enthusiasm for working with some of PepsiCo’s most iconic brands, including Lay’s, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps, Quaker, Cheetos, and Doritos. She stated, “These brands have been part of everyday moments for millions, and I’m excited to shape the next chapter of their journey.”
Before this role, Menon was part of the AMESA region team at PepsiCo, where she contributed to the marketing strategy and led cross-market collaborations for flagship brands such as Pepsi, 7Up, and Mountain Dew. With over 20 years of experience in diverse marketing roles, she has also worked with notable companies like Colgate-Palmolive, Uber, and Kimberly-Clark.
PepsiCo India reported impressive financial results, with revenues of ₹8,877 crore and a profit after tax of ₹883.4 crore for the year ending December 31, 2024. These results were primarily driven by sales from its packaged foods segment and liquid concentrates sold to bottling partners, with the snacks business alone exceeding ₹6,800 crore.
In the competitive landscape of India’s packaged foods market, PepsiCo faces challenges from major players like Coca-Cola, ITC, Bikaji, and Haldiram’s, with local partner Varun Beverages managing its bottling operations. Last year, the company announced a significant investment of ₹1,266 crore to establish a flavor manufacturing facility in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, set to commence operations in the first quarter of 2026. Additionally, a new plant is planned for Tamil Nadu.
According to estimates from the economic think tank ICRIER, India’s packaged foods market is valued at ₹3.6 trillion, while the carbonated soft drinks sector generated $18.25 billion in revenue in 2022.
**FAQ**
*What is Saakshi Verma Menon’s role at PepsiCo India?*
Saakshi Verma Menon has been appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer for foods at PepsiCo India, where she will lead the marketing strategy for various iconic food brands.
