Pepsico's Indian-origin CEO Indra Nooyi, who stepped down Wednesday after 12 years at the helm of the global beverage giant, said that "lot of fuel" is still left in her "tank" and she looks forward to doing something different with her life and spend more time with her family.
Chennai-born Nooyi not only broke the glass ceiling in corporate America when she was named CEO of the global beverage giant in 2006 but, through her journey, inspired millions of young Indians who dreamed of and aspired to emulate the success the India-born woman achieved in America.
Ramon Laguarta, 54, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the global beverage giant PepsiCo Wednesday, succeeding 62-year-old Nooyi.
In her concluding remarks during PepsiCo's Third Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, Nooyi said, "You know 12 years is a long time as a CEO, and even though I have a lot of fuel still left in my tank. I wanted to do something different with my life. Spend more time with my family and give the next generation in PepsiCo a chance to lead this great company."
Nooyi, a mother of two daughters, was also very vocal about the challenges women faced in trying to find a balance in managing their home and work. She had famously said at an Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado in 2014 that women "cannot have it all."
"Now it's on to the next adventurefor us all. Thinking about my life beyond PepsiCo, I'm reminded of the words of the great Sufi mystic Rumi," she said. Quoting Rumi, she said, "Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation."
Nooyi described her successor Laguarta as a terrific executive with a long and proven track record of growing businesses. She said he has a deep understanding of the changing preferences of consumers and other critical trends unfolding around the world, and he has demonstrated that he knows how to navigate them successfully."