The Odds Of Getting Even

With Indra Nooyi being replaced by Ramon Laguarta, the problem of low women representation in top jobs has returned to the limelight. We take a deeper look at the problem and what are some of its root causes.

- Dhruv Mukerjee

This is about the absence of real change, the reality of inadequate opportunities, and the grim reminder that “women can’t have it all”. Women make up less than five per cent of the CEOs of major public corporations, and along with it runs the issues of pay disparity (women being paid less than their male counterparts).

Indra Nooyi, the CEO of one of the biggest FMCG companies in the world, recently announced that she will be stepping down from her position at PepsiCo. As the company begins undertaking the change of leadership, the move marks the end of a12-year tenure where Indra Nooyi was responsible for navigating PepsiCo through a turbulent period marked with market changes, changing consumer preferences and even fending off harmful investor motives. As she steps down, she leaves behind an extensive legacy that her successor, the current company president Ramon Laguarta would hope to build on.

Under Nooyi, the company grew its net revenue from $35 billion in 2006 to $63.5 billion in 2017. PepsiCo stock gained cumulatively 79 percent since she assumed the CEO role in October 2006. In addition to managing a steady business growth, she also was able to ensure the company remained untied as investor Nelson Peltz aimed at splitting the company in two.