Soni had joined as designate CMO on Wednesday, 1 May. 

According to PepsiCo South Africa, Soni brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspective to the leadership team from her distinguished career in the FMCG industry. 

The brand adds that Soni's appointment signals an exciting new chapter for PepsiCo South Africa's diverse portfolio of brands, including favourites like:

  • Simba
  • Bokomo Weetbix
  • Lay's
  • Wellingtons
  • SASKO
  • Liqui Fruit
  • White Star, and
  • Spekko.   

According to PepsiCo South Africa, Soni started her career as an assistant brand manager at Unilever before moving into trade marketing and various marketing roles at Nestle. This was followed by an extensive stint in marketing at SABMiller Pty (Ltd).

Soni joins from Tiger Brands, where she held marketing director roles for the Enterprise Foods business unit and the culinary portfolio before moving into general management. Her last role was managing executive of the home and personal care business unit.

According to the brand, Soni is a results-focussed business executive who creates a clear vision and maximises value from organisational networks by fostering a culture of accountability. She will leverage her demonstrated commercial acumen, excellent communication skills, knack for connecting the dots and deep consumer insights to foster winning strategies that will deliver innovation and growth for PepsiCo South Africa.

According to the new CMO, Soni's personal interests include:

  • being an avid Formula 1 fan
  • cherishing quality time with her family, and
  • expressing her creativity in the kitchen, when the mood strikes.  

Soni says that as a lifelong learner, she embodies the spirit of growth and progression. She holds an MBA with distinction, along with a bachelor of chemical engineering and a BCom honours degree.

PepsiCo says that with her diverse skills set and personal traits, Soni is a valuable addition to the team and is poised to lead them into a bright and prosperous future.

Riaan Heyl, the CEO of PepsiCo South Africa, concludes that he is excited to have Soni onboard and is confident that she will have a tremendous impact on the business.  

For more information, visit www.sa.pepsico.africa. You can also follow PepsiCo South Africa on LinkedIn or on X. 

*Image courtesy of contributor