PepsiCo has appointed Sanjeev Chadha to the new role of chief for its businesses in the Middle East and Africa.

Chadha, currently chairman and CEO of PepsiCo’s operations in India, will take up the new role from 1 January, the firm said today (25 October). He will also become a member of PepsiCo’s global leadership team: the PepsiCo Executive Committee.

The new area of responsibility for Chadha – Middle East and Africa – is one of the “largest and most profitable” regions of PepsiCo, and is headquartered in Dubai, the firm said.

Chadha was a founding member of the PepsiCo business in India 20 years ago, and has since developed the company’s operations across several countries. He spent a decade in Hong Kong before moving back to India in 2007.

Manu Anand, the CEO for PepsiCo’s business in south-east Asia, will take up Chadha’s role as chairman and CEO of PepsiCo India.

PepsiCo has also announced the appointment of Varun Berry as CEO of PepsiCo’s foods business in India. Berry is the CEO of International Dairy & Juice, a joint venture between PepsiCo and Almarai, a Saudi dairy firm.