PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) has elected Joaquin Duato as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective December 1, 2026. Duato, 64, currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson and will join PepsiCo's Audit Committee upon taking his seat.
His Background
Duato has spent more than three decades at Johnson & Johnson, ascending from regional executive roles to become the company's top leader. He has served as CEO since 2022 and Chairman since 2023, and previously led J&J's global pharmaceuticals division from 2011 to 2018. His tenure spans pharmaceuticals, consumer health, and technology — sectors that demanded rigorous risk oversight, innovation pipelines, and disciplined portfolio management across highly regulated global markets.
Why It Matters for F&B
For food and beverage operators who track PepsiCo's strategic direction, the appointment signals the snack-and-drink giant's continued push to sharpen its portfolio and prioritize sustainable growth. PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta pointed directly to those priorities in welcoming Duato, citing his "experience in driving strategic transformation, portfolio optimization and innovation" as assets the board needs "as PepsiCo continues to evolve its portfolio, invest in growth opportunities and strengthen its position as a global convenient food and beverage leader."
Robert C. Pohlad, Chair of the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, added that Duato's background in operational resilience and research-based innovation will bolster the board's capacity to oversee PepsiCo's evolving brand roster — which generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025 and includes marquee names such as Lay's, Gatorade, Doritos, Quaker, and SodaStream.
What's Next
The board addition comes as PepsiCo navigates shifting consumer demand across both its beverage and convenient foods divisions — trends closely watched by the broader beverage industry and foodservice supply chain alike. Duato's governance experience managing a sprawling multinational through market disruption and regulatory complexity could prove particularly relevant as PepsiCo refines which brands and categories it invests behind.
Industry observers tracking restaurant and foodservice supply partnerships will note that PepsiCo's on-premise and foodservice channel relationships remain a meaningful part of its commercial footprint, making boardroom strategy shifts relevant beyond the retail shelf. Coverage of PepsiCo's broader food and beverage portfolio moves is tracked regularly by Food & Beverage Magazine.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
