PepsiCo names Mark Kirkham as Chief Marketing Officer for North America Beverages
Mark Kirkham takes on a key leadership role as PepsiCo intensifies its focus on zero sugar and brand modernization.
USA – PepsiCo has announced the appointment of Mark Kirkham as the new Chief Marketing Officer for its North America Beverages division, effective April 7.
Kirkham succeeds longtime CMO Greg Lyons, who is departing the company to pursue an external opportunity.
A seasoned PepsiCo executive with over 14 years at the company, Kirkham most recently served as senior vice president of sparkling beverages for PepsiCo North America.
He returned to the U.S. six months ago after holding international leadership positions, including CMO of PepsiCo International Beverages. He brings a wealth of expertise to his new role with 25 years of experience in insights, innovation, and global brand building.
Kirkham assumes the position at a crucial time as PepsiCo sharpens its focus on expanding healthier beverage options and revitalizing its brand portfolio.
He played a pivotal role in accelerating Pepsi’s zero sugar offerings worldwide, spearheading initiatives like the Pepsi Zero Sugar Challenge to convert regular soda consumers to zero-calorie alternatives.
His leadership has also influenced major brand campaigns, including Pepsi’s global rebranding, Gatorade’s “Fuel Tomorrow” platform, the “Food Deserves Pepsi” campaign, and the recent repositioning of Mountain Dew. These efforts have been central to modernizing PepsiCo’s beverage lineup and attracting younger, health-conscious consumers.
Ram Krishnan, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, said: “Mark is a multi-disciplined marketer and creative storyteller with deep, global experience in the beverage business. He led the step-changed international approach to accelerating zero sugar and expanding our portfolio to address the needs of evolving consumers.”
Kirkham’s appointment comes amid fierce competition between PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, both of which are investing heavily in zero sugar products to meet changing consumer preferences.
Coca-Cola has recently reformulated its Coke Zero Sugar recipe and launched Gen Z-focused marketing campaigns, including AI-driven music initiatives and collaborations with K-pop group NewJeans.
PepsiCo, meanwhile, has been working to reinvigorate its flagship brand, tying Pepsi more closely to meals and acquiring prebiotic soda brand Poppi for US$1.95 billion earlier this month.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
