Few leaders in the fast-paced world of consumer goods, where global giants compete for market dominance in one of the world’s most dynamic economies, have the same mix of experience, vision, and adaptability as Jagrut Kotecha. Kotecha has been the CEO of PepsiCo India and South Asia for more than 30 years, and during that time, he has helped shape the fortunes of a brand that is known for being refreshing and indulgent. His journey from a new engineering graduate to a global executive running multibillion-dollar businesses is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and community-focused leadership. Kotecha’s plans are not only bringing back famous products like Lay’s and Pepsi, but they are also changing the way people in India grow food and interact with consumers. PepsiCo India has big growth goals for 2025.
A Base Built on Engineering and Early Goals
Jagrut Kotecha was born and raised in Mumbai, where he went to school. His academic roots are firmly in technical precision. He has a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Mumbai. This degree gave him the analytical skills he needed to improve processes in the food and beverage industry. Kotecha also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), which helped him improve his knowledge of consumer behavior and brand strategy.
Kotecha’s career journey began in 1994 when he became a sales and brand manager for PepsiCo. He got his start in Western Snack marketing, where he quickly showed that he could turn regional insights into national successes. This time helped him believe in the power of localized innovation, which would be a theme throughout his career.
A Global Journey: From Thailand to the Philippines
Kotecha’s career quickly crossed borders, which is in line with PepsiCo’s goal of developing talent around the world. He was the Director of Sales in Thailand from 2000 to 2002, where he learned how to deal with the differences between Southeast Asian markets. After that, he became the Commercial Director in the Philippines from 2003 to 2005, where he was in charge of all aspects of profit and loss (P&L) and learned a lot about business in a variety of cultural and economic settings.
As General Manager for Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Pacific Islands, and Mongolia from 2006 to 2010, the momentum kept going. In this role, Kotecha managed operations in multiple countries, combining sales, marketing, and supply chain strategies to boost growth in markets that were not very connected. His time working abroad was more than just a career milestone; it gave him a deep respect for adaptive leadership. In later interviews, he said that these experiences taught him that “excellence and innovation” are universal, but they must be done in a way that fits with the culture.
Kotecha quickly rose to the top after returning to India in 2011 as General Manager and Country Manager for Thailand until 2016 (a hybrid role that showed off his skills). He was Vice President for the Snacks Category in the India Region from October 2016 to May 2019. This was a very important time for PepsiCo’s savory portfolio because it was facing more and more competition. During his time in office, he oversaw the launch of targeted innovations, such as low-cost snacking platforms, that helped the company gain market share.
By June 2019, Kotecha was the Vice President for Global Affordable Platforms in Foods, a job that connected new markets with strategies used around the world. He was the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for AMESA (Africa, Middle East, and South Asia) starting in January 2020. He was in charge of a huge portfolio that included drinks, snacks, and nutrition products. This role positioned him as a key architect of PepsiCo’s regional resilience, particularly during the disruptions of the global pandemic.
Leading the Way: CEO of PepsiCo India and South Asia
PepsiCo announced in January 2024 that Kotecha would be the new CEO for India and South Asia, starting in March 2024. He would take over for Ahmed El Sheikh, who moved to lead the Middle East Business Unit. Eugene Willemsen, CEO of AMESA, praised Kotecha’s ability to “scale new zeniths of success” and called the move a “dynamic and forward-thinking global approach.” Kotecha himself was excited, saying that his 30 years at the company had given him a front-row seat to PepsiCo’s “unwavering commitment to excellence.”
PepsiCo India has been working hard under Kotecha’s leadership to double its sales to $2 billion over the next five years. The company is focusing on India’s growing middle class and Gen Z customers. Snacks and drinks are the two things that drive this goal. In the snack category, where PepsiCo rules with brands like Lay’s, Kotecha has made “winning the cola wars and ruling the snack shelf” a top priority by coming up with new flavors that fit changing tastes, like healthier, regional versions. Meanwhile, drinks are moving into non-carbonated areas like Tropicana and bottled water, taking advantage of trends that focus on health.
Kotecha’s strategic plan focuses on reaching India’s “next billion consumers” by combining digital marketing with hyper-local distribution. In a 2025 Forbes India Pathbreakers interview, he outlined how PepsiCo is leveraging e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms to reach urban millennials, while fortifying rural penetration through tech-enabled supply chains. His past work with affordable platforms has been very helpful. Smaller pack sizes, for example, have made access easier for everyone, which has led to more sales in markets where price is important.
Supporting sustainability and making a difference in the community
Kotecha’s leadership goes beyond the numbers on a balance sheet. He believes that sustainability is a key factor for long-term success. PepsiCo under his guidance has deepened investments in regenerative agriculture, partnering with over 20,000 Indian farmers to promote water-efficient potato cultivation for Lay’s. This “farmer-first” approach, which was praised at the 2025 Voices of Harvest Awards, recognizes new ideas in the farming ecosystem and gives communities data-driven tools to help them be strong.
Kotecha met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in June 2025 to talk about expanding the Nalbari plant, using technology to empower farmers, and creating jobs. This shows that he is focused on growth that includes everyone. He spoke at the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit in March 2025 about how important it is for businesses to work together more closely on sustainability and community development. He called partnerships the “power of progress.”
Kotecha’s philanthropic bent extends to work-life balance advocacy. He is an avid golfer and includes fitness and mindfulness in his daily life. He tells his teams to put their health first even when they have a lot of work to do.
A Plan for the Future
As PepsiCo India faces economic challenges in 2025, such as inflation and changing consumer tastes, Jagrut Kotecha stays strong. His September 2025 meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside PepsiCo’s global leadership underscored the company’s alignment with India’s growth story, from agri-tech to export ambitions. Kotecha sees a future for PepsiCo where it not only satisfies thirst and cravings, but also helps the ecosystems it affects.
Kotecha has worked at PepsiCo for more than 30 years, which is unusual in an industry where people don’t stay for long. But it’s his ability to look ahead—based on empathy, innovation, and teamwork—that makes him a great leader. As India moves quickly toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy, leaders like Kotecha are not just adapting; they are building the future, one strategic sip and crunch at a time.
