Barclays vs PepsiCo: Founders, CEOs and History
Barclays was founded in 1690 by John Freame, Thomas Gould and is led by C.S. Venkatakrishnan. PepsiCo was founded in 1965 by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay and is led by Ramon Laguarta.
Company facts
Founders
Barclays
John Freame
The founding of Barclays is not a single event, but an aristocratic consolidation of historic Quaker banking families in the heart of London.
Thomas Gould
Thomas Gould (1663 to 1731) was a respected Quaker goldsmith and the indispensable co-founder of the partnership that laid the genesis of Barclays PLC.
PepsiCo
Caleb Bradham
Caleb Bradham created "Brad's Drink" at his New Bern pharmacy in 1898, renamed it Pepsi-Cola and incorporated the Pepsi-Cola Company in 1902.
Donald M. Kendall
Donald M. Kendall led Pepsi-Cola and engineered its 1965 merger with Frito-Lay to form PepsiCo, which he ran as CEO until 1986.
Herman W. Lay
Herman W. Lay (1909-1982) started his career as a snack food salesman. In 1932, he opened a snack food operation in Nashville, Tennessee, eventually purchasing the manufacturer and renaming it H.W. Lay & Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Barclays
- John Varley2004–2011
Group Chief Executive
He retired in 2011 and Bob Diamond succeeded him.
Source - Bob Diamond2011–2012
Former Chief Executive Officer
Diamond, the architect of the 2008 Lehman Brothers acquisition, was the who built Barclays' top investment banking franchise into a global leader.
Source - Antony Jenkins2012–2015
Former Chief Executive Officer
Jenkins was tasked with the challenge of overhauling Barclays' toxic corporate culture in the aftermath of the LIBOR scandal.
Source - C.S. Venkatakrishnan2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Venkatakrishnan, a former head of the bank's credit trading desk, assumed the CEO role during a period of intense macroeconomic headwinds and regulatory scrutiny.
Source
PepsiCo
- D. Wayne Calloway1986–1996
Chief Executive Officer
He more than doubled PepsiCo's revenues during his tenure and heavily invested in the restaurant division before it was later spun off.
Source - Roger Enrico1996–2001
Chief Executive Officer
He dramatically simplified the company's structure, allowing it to focus resources on its core grocery and convenience store distribution networks.
Source - Steven Reinemund2001–2006
Chief Executive Officer
He oversaw significant international expansion and revenue growth, setting a strong operational foundation before handing leadership to Nooyi.
Source - Indra Nooyi2006–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Under her 12-year tenure as CEO, PepsiCo's revenue grew by more than 80%, and she fundamentally reshaped the company's identity from a junk-food purveyor to a diversified global food and beverage giant.
Source - Ramon Laguarta2018–present
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
He sustained strong organic revenue growth and protected operating margins through historically challenging supply chain conditions, while committing the company to major sustainability and packaging reduction goals.
Source
Timeline: Barclays and PepsiCo side by side
1690Barclays
Founding on Lombard Street
Quaker goldsmiths John Freame and Thomas Gould open their banking partnership on Lombard Street in the City of London, laying the foundational bedrock of modern commercial banking by issuing promissory notes and safeguarding merchant wealth.
1736Barclays
Adoption of the Barclays Name
James Barclay, the son-in-law of John Freame, is admitted to the partnership, and the firm officially adopts the Barclays name, setting the stage for its future dominance and expansion into financing the British industrial revolution.
1896Barclays
Transition to a Joint-Stock Bank
In a cultural and legal shift for the conservative Quaker leadership, Barclays transitions from a private partnership with unlimited liability to a joint-stock company, allowing it to raise the capital required to expand its branch network across the UK.
1898PepsiCo
Pepsi-Cola Invented in North Carolina
Caleb Bradham formulated the original digestive cola syrup in his drugstore.
1960Barclays
International Expansion and Credit Cards
Barclays expands its international footprint, opening branches across Europe and the Americas, and becomes a pioneer in the UK consumer credit market by launching one of the first bank-issued credit cards, altering British consumer spending habits.
1965PepsiCo
Historic Merger of Pepsi-Cola & Frito-Lay
Donald Kendall and Herman Lay created PepsiCo, uniting snacks and soft drinks.
1975PepsiCo
Launch of the Pepsi Challenge
National blind taste tests shook Coca-Cola's market dominance and redefined advertising.
1986Barclays
The 'Big Bang' and Investment Banking
Following the deregulation of the London Stock Exchange, Barclays expands its securities trading and corporate advisory capabilities, transitioning from a traditional commercial bank into a strong player in the global capital markets.
1997PepsiCo
Restaurant Business Spun Off
PepsiCo spun off its restaurant businesses (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC) as Tricon Global Restaurants, now Yum! Brands, in 1997.
1998PepsiCo
Acquisition of Tropicana ($3.3B)
Acquired chilled orange juice leader Tropicana to dominate morning beverages.
2000Barclays
Acquisition of The Woolwich
Barclays acquires The Woolwich, the UK's second-largest building society, in a $5.7 billion deal, instantly cementing its dominance in the British mortgage market and significantly expanding its retail deposit base.
2001PepsiCo
Acquisition of Quaker Oats & Gatorade ($13.4B)
Acquired Quaker Oats, adding sports hydration pioneer Gatorade to the portfolio.
2006PepsiCo
Indra Nooyi becomes CEO
Indra Nooyi became CEO of PepsiCo in 2006. Chief executive of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018.
2008Barclays
The Lehman Brothers Acquisition
In a frantic weekend rescue during the height of the global financial crisis, Barclays acquires the North American operations of the collapsed Lehman Brothers, instantly transforming the bank into a global bulge-bracket investment bank.
2011PepsiCo
Wimm-Bill-Dann Acquired
PepsiCo completed its acquisition of the Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann in 2011.
2012Barclays
The LIBOR Manipulation Scandal
Barclays is hit with nearly $500 million in fines by global regulators for its role in manipulating the LIBOR benchmark interest rate, leading to the resignation of the CEO and Chairman and forcing a complete overhaul of the bank's compliance culture.
2017Barclays
Spin-off of African Operations
Barclays completes the demerger of its African retail banking operations into the independent Absa Group, retreating from emerging market retail banking to focus on its core UK and global corporate franchises.
2018PepsiCo
Acquisition of SodaStream ($3.2B) & Ramon Laguarta Appointed CEO
Acquired SodaStream to pioneer eco-friendly dispensing; Ramon Laguarta took over as CEO.
2022PepsiCo
Strategic Distribution Alliance with Celsius ($550M)
Secured master global distribution for fast-growing energy brand Celsius.
2024Barclays
Sale of US Consumer Bank to Equifax
Barclays executes an effective strategic purification by selling its US consumer credit card portfolio to Equifax, shedding low-return, capital-intensive assets to focus on high-yielding corporate lending and top fixed-income trading.
2025PepsiCo
poppi Acquisition and Elliott-Backed Plan
Closed the $1.95 billion poppi deal and announced a North America cost and pricing reset in December.
2026PepsiCo
Price Cuts on Core Snacks
Lowered prices on major Frito-Lay brands by up to 15% to recover US volumes.
Acquisitions
Barclays
- ING Direct UK2012$1.2B
- Lehman Brothers North America2008$1.4B
- Absa Group (Majority Stake)2005$5.5B
- The Woolwich2000$8B
PepsiCo
- poppi2025$1.9B
- SodaStream International2018$3.2B
- The Quaker Oats Company (including Gatorade)2001$13.4B
- Tropicana Products1998$3.3B
Questions about Barclays vs PepsiCo
Who is the CEO of Barclays PLC and PepsiCo, Inc.?
Barclays PLC is led by C.S. Venkatakrishnan and PepsiCo, Inc. is led by Ramon Laguarta. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Barclays PLC founded vs PepsiCo, Inc.?
Barclays PLC was founded in 1690 — 275 years before PepsiCo, Inc., which was founded in 1965. Barclays PLC's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger PepsiCo, Inc..
How many employees does Barclays PLC have compared to PepsiCo, Inc.?
Barclays PLC employs approximately 83,000 people, while PepsiCo, Inc. employs approximately 306,000. PepsiCo, Inc. has the larger workforce at 306,000 employees, compared to Barclays PLC's 83,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Barclays PLC and PepsiCo, Inc. headquartered?
Barclays PLC is headquartered in United Kingdom and PepsiCo, Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Barclays PLC and PepsiCo, Inc.?
Barclays PLC was founded by John Freame, Thomas Gould. PepsiCo, Inc. was founded by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay.
Which company has a longer operating history — Barclays PLC or PepsiCo, Inc.?
Barclays PLC has been operating for approximately 336 years, making it the more established of the two companies. PepsiCo, Inc. has been in operation for around 61 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Barclays vs PepsiCo overview