PepsiCo’s board of directors has said it will support the company’s CEO Indra Nooyi, despite suggestions of internal unrest and questions over her strategy for the firm, according to reports.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal yesterday (12 January), PepsiCo independent director James Schiro said that Nooyi has the board’s backing. “The board supports Indra and the management team, and its ability to execute its strategy and vision to create shareholder value,” he told the publication.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

PepsiCo is due to publish its business plan for 2012 and beyond early next month, after the review was extended in November. This followed a year in which PepsiCo reduced its earnings forecast twice on the back of rising commodity costs, fielded reports of a potential split and seen its CEO singled out for criticism.

Nooyi, who has been at the helm of PepsiCo since 2006, has overseen a push into healthier products across both its snacks and drinks divisions. Yet, some industry observers believe it has distracted her from turning around the core soft drink business, which has suffered, particularly in North America.

However, according to the Wall Street Journal, the strategic review is likely to result in “a renewed marketing push for its core soft drinks business – and sharp cost reductions to pay for it”.

Last week, the company dismissed reports that is looking to cut around 4,000 jobs and reduce pension contributions in a bid to boost earnings.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

PepsiCo could not be reached for confirmation of the reports at the time of going to press.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact