PepsiCo President to Become CEO of Pilot Flying J

PepsiCo Inc.'s (PEP) President, John Compton, is leaving the global food and beverage giant to become chief executive of privately held Pilot Flying J, which operates truck stops and convenience stores.

Mr. Compton, a 30-year Pepsi veteran, will be succeeded by Zein Abdalla, who is CEO of Pepsi" Europe division.

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi said Mr. Compton's move will take him back to Tennessee, where Pilot Flying J is based. She said he joined Pepsi at the company's Tennessee Frito-Lay facility.

Ms. Nooyi credited Mr. Abdalla with doubling revenue in its Europe business to $14 billion during his tenure; leading the shift of Pepsi's European portfolio towards the higher-growth markets in the region; and helping Pepsi become the largest food and beverage company in Russia.

Enderson Guimaraes, currently the president of Pepsi's global nutrition business, will succeed Mr. Abdalla as CEO of PepsiCo Europe. Before joining Pepsi in 2011, his experience includes heading Electrolux AB's (ELUX-B.SK, ELUXY) major appliances business in Europe.

PepsiCo shares were up 15 cents, at $71.73 in recent after-hours trading.

Write to Tess Stynes at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires