PepsiCo links operations in Americas

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Food and beverage conglomerate PepsiCo announced plans to realign its divisions in North and Latin America.

Under the changes, the company will increase the number of operating divisions from two -- North America and International -- to three, the Financial Times reported Monday. As part of the restructuring, Dawn Hudson is to step down as head of Pepsi-Cola North America, the main drinks business.

Under the new structure, the North America business joins Gatorade and Tropicana in a new PepsiCo Americas Beverages division headed by John Compton. A new PepsiCo Americas Food division, led by Massimo d'Amore, will include the Quaker foods and Frito-Lay snacks units, and PepsiCo's Mexican Sabritas snacks and Gamesa divisions. Michael White will remain head of PepsiCo International, covering the rest of the company's worldwide operations.

PepsiCo, based in New York, is one of the first major U.S. consumer products companies to tie operations in the United State and Canada with Latin America, the British newspaper said. Coca-Cola, its larger rival, operates a separate North America business unit.