THIS WEEK: New role in the can for Pepsi’s European chief

Mhairi McEwan, the woman who turned Pepsi blue across Europe six months

ago, is being promoted to a new post within PepsiCo outside its soft

drinks operation.

The move is part of a worldwide restructuring of Pepsi’s management

aimed at making the drinks giant’s pounds 7bn business operate on a

global basis (Marketing, October 24).

Arnold Veraart, head of Pepsi’s Dutch operation, will move to the

company’s UK base in Richmond to replace McEwan as vice-president of

European marketing.

Pepsi has yet to confirm her new job, which she will begin in the new

year, or that of Yann Tardiff, European marketing director, who has also

been given a senior role. The company refused to comment on rumours that

McEwan is to move into its snacks operation, which includes Walkers

crisps in the UK.

Veraart will act as one of the ten marketing vice-presidents across the

world overseeing Pepsi’s beverage operations in ten geographical

business units. The UK comes under PepsiCo International, which covers

western Europe.

This article was first published on Marketing