PepsiCo has announced the promotion of Nitin Bhandari to the position of Vice President and General Manager for its Beverages division in India and South Asia. Based in Gurugram, Bhandari will now lead the company’s beverage operations across the region, with a clear focus on driving growth, enhancing consumer engagement, and fostering stronger relationships with stakeholders and local communities.
This move follows the impending retirement of George Kovoor, Senior Vice President and General Manager of India Beverages, who is set to step down on 31st March 2025. Bhandari’s appointment marks a new chapter for PepsiCo in South Asia, with the company expressing confidence in his ability to take the business forward.
“Excited to lead our beverages business in India & South Asia. Grateful to Eugene Willemsen & Jagrut Kotecha for this opportunity, and deeply appreciative of George Kovoor’s leadership over the last 3 years to set such a strong foundation for this business. Looking forward to partnering with our incredible team and bottling partners to unlock potential and create meaningful value for our consumers, communities & stakeholders in this vibrant region,” Bhandari commented on his new role.
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With a career spanning nearly two decades at PepsiCo, Bhandari has built an impressive leadership portfolio across India, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. He previously served as Vice President and Chief Growth Officer for PepsiCo India, where he led transformative strategies for the company’s food and beverage portfolios in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. His accomplishments include revitalising PepsiCo’s food business in Thailand, driving e-commerce innovations across Asia, and shaping marketing strategies for iconic brands such as Mountain Dew in India.
PepsiCo is confident that under Bhandari’s leadership, its beverage business in India and South Asia will continue to thrive and expand, further solidifying the company’s presence in the region.
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