PepsiCo, Inc. announced senior leadership appointments that support the company's strategic priorities and growth agenda. The following moves are effective immediately: Laxman Narasimhan, currently Chief Executive Officer, Latin America (LATAM), Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA), has been appointed to the newly created position of Global Chief Commercial Officer, PepsiCo, reporting to Laguarta. In this new role, Narasimhan will shape PepsiCo's integrated long-term growth strategy and lead the development of world-class commercial and marketing capabilities. Narasimhan will oversee PepsiCo's Global Category Groups, Insights, Commercialization, Design, Global R&D, E-Commerce and Strategy. Silviu Popovici, who has led ESSA reporting to Narasimhan will now be Chief Executive Officer, ESSA and report directly to Laguarta. Narasimhan will continue to lead PepsiCo's LATAM sector on an interim basis. Narasimhan has held several senior leadership positions with increasing responsibility during his tenure at PepsiCo. In his most recent role, he oversaw the company's food and beverage businesses across LATAM and ESSA, with a focus on unlocking new growth opportunities for the two organizations, harmonizing commercial strategies and operating practices, developing talent, and evolving culture. At the same time, the company continues to delayer operating businesses with a goal of becoming faster and more locally focused. Following the recent moves that Frito Lay North America and PepsiCo Beverages North America will report directly into Laguarta, all leaders of key businesses and geographies will now report to Laguarta, including: Kirk Tanner, CEO PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA); Vivek Sankaran, CEO Frito Lay North America (FLNA); Silviu Popovici, CEO Europe Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA); Mike Spanos, CEO Asia, Middle East, North Africa (AMENA); Laxman Narasimhan, interim CEO Latin America (LATAM); and Jim Andrew, EVP Soda Stream and Beyond Bottle Ventures. The company will continue to report segments as FLNA, LATAM, Quaker Foods North America, North America Beverages, ESSA, AMENA, consistent with current practice. In addition, the company also announced a change in leadership in its Research and Development organization: Dr. Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Global Research and Development, will retire from PepsiCo in the month of March 2019. He will remain with the company in an advisory capacity. Over the last decade, Khan led research and development efforts for PepsiCo, driving innovation with new products, packaging and processes, and ensuring that PepsiCo upheld the higher standards of quality around the world. During his tenure, PepsiCo became respected as a worldwide leader in science and innovation, attracting top talent in fields such as agronomy, nutrition, biology, food science and engineering. At the same, Khan was instrumental in defining PepsiCo's sustainability goals while being an active voice externally, urging others to join PepsiCo in its efforts to build a more sustainable food system. Rene Lammers, currently Senior Vice President of Category R&D, has been appointed to the role of Chief Science Officer, reporting to Narasimhan. In this role, Lammers will be responsible for building R&D capabilities as look to continue to expand product portfolio. In his most recent role, Lammers was responsible for driving an integrated agenda across product, process, equipment and packaging technologies. Since joining PepsiCo in 2010, Lammers has held leadership roles across long-term research, Global Functions, Governance and Compliance and the Global Beverage Category.