Laxman Narasimhan

Biography

Laxman Narasimhan is the chief executive officer of PepsiCo Latin America and Europe Sub-Saharan Africa. PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of approximately $63 billion in 2016, and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. PepsiCo’s main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. Laxman assumed the position in September 2017. He leads PepsiCo’s food and beverage business across Latin America and Europe Sub-Saharan Africa and reports to PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Indra Nooyi. He previously served as the CEO of PepsiCo Latin America and prior to that served as the senior vice president and CFO of PepsiCo Americas Foods based in Purchase, New York, which covered Frito-Lay North America, Quaker North America and PepsiCo’s Latin America Foods. Prior to PepsiCo, Laxman was a director and location manager of McKinsey’s New Delhi Office. He worked with McKinsey for 19 years around the world, including rotations in Cleveland, Tokyo, Toronto, San Francisco and New Delhi. He had responsibility for consumer-facing industries in India, co-led the Global Consumer and Shopper Insights Practice and led McKinsey’s research on the emerging market consumer. He has worked across multiple industries, including consumer, retail, energy, manufacturing, technology and healthcare. Previously, Laxman co-led the Global Retail Knowledge Council of McKinsey’s Retail Practice. In addition to client service and research, Laxman has led assignments in the public sector, working on important policy issues, particularly in education and skill building. Laxman is a Trustee of the Brookings Institution and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, University of Pune, India. He has an MA in German and International Studies from The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where he won financial support from the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation from Sweden and the J.N.Tata Endowment in India. He has an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania, where he was designated a Palmer Scholar. He and his wife Vidhya have two children and are based in the New York area.

Research Interest

food process