Frito-Lay has promoted Jaya Kumar to CMO just days after President-CEO Al Carey took charge of the snacks giant.
Kumar will oversee all traditional marketing and research for Frito-Lay North America. He reports directly to Carey, who took the reins of Plano, TX-based Frito earlier this week when Irene Rosenfeld left the post to become CEO at Kraft (Xtra June 27, 2006).
Kumar, who joined Frito in 2005 as VP-consumer strategy, insights and growth, was promoted in September to group VP-insights, innovation and shopper marketing, responsible for product innovation, shopper and retailer research, and retail and regional marketing (Xtra Sept. 29, 2005).
His elevation to CMO just nine months later signals Frito’s intention to accelerate its retail marketing. Kumar is credited with pushing Frito’s R&D, consumer research and in-store activity for core brands. Kumar will continue to oversee consumer research and innovation while Frito seeks a replacement for that post.
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