Prepared Foods September 19, 2005 eNewsletter
The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) announced that its board of directors has elected Eric J. Foss chief operating officer, effective immediately. In this new role, Foss will oversee PBG's U.S. and Canadian businesses, worldwide manufacturing operations, corporate strategy and worldwide information technology. Most recently, he served as president of PBG North America.
"Eric Foss has been an outstanding leader of our North American operations," said John T. Cahill, chairman and chief executive officer of PBG. "His seasoned leadership, cultivated over more than two decades in the Pepsi system, has helped PBG deliver solid results. Eric has led major initiatives in our U.S. and Canadian businesses, greatly improving our marketplace execution and selling capability, resulting in improved market share. He also is the chief architect of PBG's highly successful revenue management strategy, which has resulted in consistent gains quarter after quarter. I am very pleased that Eric is assuming a much broader role in the company and look forward to his valuable contributions."
PBG's board also expanded the role of Gary K. Wandschneider and named him executive vice president, Worldwide Operations. In this new assignment, Wandschneider will retain direct responsibility for the company's global manufacturing and logistics operations and its foodservice equipment management, and add PBG's customer service work to his portfolio.
In making this announcement, Cahill said, "Gary has been a key player on our leadership team since the formation of PBG as an independent company. With more than 20 years in the Pepsi system, he has been the driving force behind significant improvements and advancements in PBG's manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure. Gary's expertise extends beyond the operations and supply logistics of our business, which he continually demonstrates, most recently in his pursuit of integrated customer service solutions for our business."
Foss joined Pepsi-Cola Company in 1982 in sales and held a variety of increasingly responsible field and headquarters-based sales, marketing and general management positions. In 1990, he was named vice president, Retail Strategy for Pepsi-Cola North America (PCNA). From 1994 to 1996, he served as general manager of PCNA's Great West Business Unit. In 1996, he was named general manager of Pepsi-Cola's Central Europe business. He returned to the U.S. in February 1999, when he joined PBG as senior vice president, U.S. Sales and Field Marketing. A year later, he was appointed executive vice president and general manager of PBG North America and, the following year, was named to his most recent position.
Wandschneider joined Pepsi-Cola North America in 1982 as a production manager. He worked in a variety of manufacturing and operations positions of increasing responsibility until 1990, when he was named vice president of Operations. In 1992, Wandschneider was appointed general manager for the Texoma Business Unit. He served as vice president of Manufacturing and Logistics from 1994 to 1997, at which time he was appointed senior vice president of Operations.
