New York, Aug 6: Indian American business executive Indra K. Nooyi will step down as the Chief Executive of food and beverage major PepsiCo Inc in October, the company said on Monday.

According to the US-based multinational, Nooyi, 62, will step down on October 3 after 24 years with the company, the last 12 as the CEO. However, Nooyi will remain the Chairman of the company until early 2019, Pepsico said.

She will be succeeded by Ramon Laguarta, 54, as the Chief Executive Officer.

"Growing up in India, I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary company," Nooyi was quoted as saying in a company statement.

"Guided by our philosophy of 'Performance with Purpose' - delivering sustained performance while making more nutritious products, limiting our environmental footprint and lifting up all the communities we serve, we've made a more meaningful impact in people's lives than I ever dreamed possible.

"PepsiCo today is in a strong position for continued growth with its brightest days still ahead."

While Nooyi departs, the rest of PepsiCo's senior leadership team will remain unchanged.

Speaking on behalf of PepsiCo's Board of Directors, presiding director Ian Cook said: "As Chairman and CEO, Indra has provided outstanding leadership over the past 12 years, serving as a model both within our industry and beyond for responsible corporate stewardship in the 21st century.

"As CEO, she grew revenue more than 80 per cent, outperforming our peers and adding a new billion-dollar brand almost every other year. And shareholders have benefited: $1,000 invested in PepsiCo in 2006 is worth more than two-and-a-half times that amount today."

Cook pointed out that under her leadership the company invested "for the future, leading the way on corporate sustainability and responsibility, and embedding a sense of purpose in everything the company does.

"As one of the first Fortune 100 CEOs to embed sustainability targets into business operations, Indra was a pioneer, paving the way for a new generation of business leaders who seek to 'do well by doing good'.

"Under her leadership, PepsiCo grew its portfolio of 'Good for You and Better for You' options from about 38 per cent of revenue in 2006 to roughly 50 per cent in 2017, almost tripled its investments in research and development to expand its more nutritious offerings and minimize its environmental impact, and achieved global recognition for the company's work in communities around the world."



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Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.

The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.

"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.

"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.

He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.

"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.

He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.

Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.

"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.

"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.

He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".

The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.

The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.

While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.