Pepsi shakes up top managers…

Club Max promotion creator and Pepsi Cola’s European marketing director Charlotte Pinder is to become general manager for Ireland in a reshuffle of its European marketing team.

She will succeed Simon Calver, the general manager for Pepsi Cola International Ireland who moves to become area vice president. He replaces Stacey Clark, who left to become marketing director for PepsiCo’s Pizza Hut restaurant chain (MW last week).

Calver, who joined PepsiCo as marketing manager in 1992, will report to Steve Lawrence, the senior vice president for PCI Europe.

Pinder will also report to Lawrence. Although the Ireland operation is smaller than the UK, the general manager post is seen as a key position in the Pepsi ranks and is viewed as a training ground for senior personnel. Clark also held the post before returning to the UK operation.

Pinder has been expected to move from her role since Yann Tardiff’s arrival as marketing director for Western Europe in March (MW March 10). Pinder’s European marketing director role will now be fully handed over to Tardiff.