PURCHASE, N.Y., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) today announced that Jim Wilkinson will join the company as executive vice president, Communications. 

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Wilkinson, who will report to PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra K. Nooyi, will lead the company's global communications team and will work across the company to enhance and promote PepsiCo.

Wilkinson joins PepsiCo from Brunswick Group LLC, where he has served as Managing Partner since 2009, providing strategic counsel on global corporate mandates spanning international, corporate and financial communications, corporate reputation, investor relations, crisis management and litigation. Prior to Brunswick Group, Wilkinson served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, serving as Paulson's senior strategist and counselor, and working on matters of financial policy and crisis management. 

"Jim is a focused and proven leader with unique expertise and experience in international, corporate and financial strategic communications," said Nooyi. "Jim has worked at the highest levels of corporations and other institutions managing complex global communications initiatives and building effective international teams.  His experience and management skills will serve PepsiCo well."

Prior to his work for Treasury, Wilkinson served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and in The White House as Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications with Rice.  From 2002-2003, Wilkinson was Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy R. Franks at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and from 2000-2001 served in The White House as Deputy Director of Communications. Wilkinson has extensive experience working with the U.S. Congress, and has served as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He has also taught communications and international relations at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the JHU graduate school of government. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington, and his Master's degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE PepsiCo, Inc.