It's not news that PepsiCo has suffered a lot of management churn in the last few years, and that sales of some brands have been hurt as the company has lost its focus.
But it's not until you see the list of senior brand management names who have bailed on the company since 2008 all in one place that you realize just how much talent has walked out of Pepsi's doors.
At least 22 senior managers have ankled the drinks and snacks giant.
That includes three operating company CEOs (Mike White, Eric Foss and Massimo d'Amore) and a whole raft of brand managers, unit senior vice presidents and chief marketing officers.
A number of them left their jobs after just a few months or a year on the job.
The most recent was d'Amore, who leaves with his tail between his legs (and a $2 million payday) after sales of flagship brand Pepsi slipped to No. 3 behind Coca-Cola and Diet Coke. His departure came at the same time as 8,700 layoffs and a $600 million increase in its ad budget to support its flagging brands.
Sure, PepsiCo is a big company and managers come and go. But the company has no excuse for some of its missteps: Its individual brands — Pepsi, Doritos, Frito Lay — are beloved powerhouses for which Americans have a deep-seated love.
But it is, perhaps, the fact that the company has so many brands that is part of the problem. Is there an organic connection between Quaker Oats and Pepsi? Or Tropicana and Smartfood Popcorn? Probably not. Yet PepsiCo needs managers for all these brands, and shuffles executives between brands frequently in the last few years.
Coca-Cola, by contrast, does one thing: It sells drinks, and all its managers are focused on beverages and only beverages.
2008
- Chris Kempczinski, vp/marketing. Went to Kraft Foods as svp of the U.S. Grocery Division.
- Russell Weiner, vp/cola marketing. Became chief marketing officer at Domino's Pizza.
- Cie Nicholson, svp/chief marketing officer. Is now evp/chief marketing officer Equinox.
2009
- Mike White, CEO of PepsiCo International (retired)
- Rick Gomez vp/marketing for waters, enhanced waters and juices. He went to a top marketing position at Coors.
- Jeff Urban, svp/sports marketing at Gatorade. Now a partner at Kids Sports Entertainment.
- Todd Magazine, president of Gatorade. Now President N. America/consumer healthcare at Pfizer.
- Jim McGinnis, vp/marketing for Tropicana. Now vp/marketing at Intuit.
- Dave Burwick, svp/chief marketing officer, PepsiCo North America Beverages. Now president, North America at Weight Watchers.
2010
- John Galloway, vp/marketing Gatorade.
- Ralph Santana, North America vp/colas. He went to become Samsung's chief marketing officer.
- Tom Silk, VP Hydration. He went to KB Homes as svp/marketing.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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See Also:
- Pepsi Gave The Guy Who Triggered 8,700 Layoffs A $2 Million Reward
- On Sunday, Chipotle Will Air Its First-Ever TV Ad — And It Is Totally EPIC
- How Groupon Is Trying, And Failing, To Work With Ad Agencies