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PepsiCo appoints Nitin Bhandari as VP, General Manager for India and South Asia beverages | Food Business Africa

INDIA – PepsiCo India has announced the appointment of Nitin Bhandari as Vice President and General Manager for India and South Asia Beverages.  

Based in Gurugram, Bhandari will be responsible for overseeing the company’s beverage operations in the region.  

His role will focus on driving growth, enhancing consumer engagement, and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and local communities. 

Bhandari will succeed George Kovoor, Senior Vice President and General Manager for India Beverages, who is set to retire on March 31, 2025.  

Kovoor has been credited with laying a strong foundation for the company’s operations during his tenure. 

Bhandari is a seasoned professional with nearly two decades of experience at PepsiCo, holding various leadership positions across India, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.  

Most recently, as Vice President and Chief Growth Officer for PepsiCo India, he spearheaded transformational initiatives across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.  

Prior to this, he managed PepsiCo’s operations in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. 

Throughout his career, Bhandari has achieved several milestones, including launching successful e-commerce ventures across Asia, revitalizing PepsiCo’s food business in Thailand, and developing innovative marketing strategies for Mountain Dew in India. 

Bhandari said, “Excited to lead our beverages business in India and South Asia. Grateful to Eugene Willemsen and Jagrut Kotecha for this opportunity, and deeply appreciative of George Kovoor’s leadership over the last three 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, and stakeholders in this vibrant region.” 

Bhandari’s appointment comes at a critical time for PepsiCo, as competition in the Indian beverage market intensifies.  

Reliance Industries has reintroduced the Campa-Cola brand, and the Jubilant Bhartia Group has recently invested Rs 12,500 crore (US$1.4M) for a 40 percent stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, a key bottling partner for Coca-Cola in India. 

In December, PepsiCo designated India as one of its 13 “anchor markets” as part of a global restructuring initiative. This move is aimed at accelerating growth in emerging regions.  

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta emphasized the importance of these anchor markets, stating that they will be prioritized for investments, services, and capabilities. 

As part of the restructuring, PepsiCo plans to establish a new International Beverages Region to unify global franchise partners under a single management structure with profit-and-loss accountability.  

This includes India-listed Varun Beverages Ltd., a key bottling partner for PepsiCo in the country. 

Additionally, PepsiCo has announced the continuation of its Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) program in the Asia-Pacific region for the third consecutive year.  

The program, focused on sustainable innovation, supports startups with mentorship, business advisory services, and collaboration opportunities. 



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