PepsiCo Inc. announced Wednesday that Irene Rosenfeld, former president of Kraft Foods’ North American business, was appointed chairman and chief executive at Frito-Lay, PepsiCo’s $9 billion snack and convenience foods division.
Rosenfeld, 50, will replace Al Bru, a 28-year veteran of the company, who will retire Feb. 1.
Bru, 55, who led the division since 1999 and previously ran the salty snacks and confectionery Sabritas business in Mexico, was named PepsiCo vice chairman.
Rosenfeld and Michael B. Polk, president of Kraft Foods’ biscuits, snacks and confections business, departed their posts abruptly in July of last year. They had both reported to co-CEO Betsy Holden, who was removed from that post in December and subsequently became Kraft’s global marketing chief.
