PepsiCo vs Post Holdings: Founders, CEOs and History
PepsiCo was founded in 1965 by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay and is led by Ramon Laguarta. Post Holdings was founded in 2012 by William P. Stiritz and is led by Nicolas Catoggio.
Company facts
PepsiCo
- Founded
- 1965
- Headquarters
- Purchase, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Ramon Laguarta
- Employees
- 306,000
Post Holdings
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Current CEO
- Nicolas Catoggio
- Employees
- 13,180
Founders
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.
Post Holdings
William P. Stiritz
William P. Stiritz is the founding Chairman and CEO of the modern Post Holdings. When Ralcorp spun off its Post cereal business in February 2012, Stiritz took charge of the new company and began the acquisition strategy that later added Michael Foods and MOM B…
CEOs and their tenures
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
Post Holdings
- William P. Stiritz2012–2014
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As the legendary Chairman and former CEO, the highly revered financial architect completely defined the company's complex, private-equity-style corporate structure.
Source - Robert V. Vitale2014–present
Executive Chairman (CEO 2014-2026)
Previously Post's CFO; from October 1, 2026 advises on capital allocation as Executive Chairman.
Source - Matthew J. Mainer2022–present
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
As CFO, he steers the company's aggressive, highly acquisitive capital allocation strategy, acting as the primary architect behind its massive M&A playbook.
Source - Nicolas Catoggio2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Former Boston Consulting Group Managing Director and Senior Partner who advised Post on M&A diligence and integrations before joining.
Source
Timeline: PepsiCo and Post Holdings side by side
1898PepsiCo
Pepsi-Cola Invented in North Carolina
Caleb Bradham formulated the original digestive cola syrup in his drugstore.
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.
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.
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.
2011PepsiCo
Wimm-Bill-Dann Acquired
PepsiCo completed its acquisition of the Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann in 2011.
2012Post Holdings
Post Holdings Spin-Off
Post completed its separation from Ralcorp and began trading on the NYSE.
2014Post Holdings
Michael Foods Acquisition
Post expanded into egg products and foodservice through Michael Foods.
2015Post Holdings
MOM Brands Acquisition
Post broadened its cereal portfolio with MOM Brands.
2017Post Holdings
Weetabix Acquisition
Post added the U.K. Weetabix cereal business.
2018PepsiCo
Acquisition of SodaStream ($3.2B) & Ramon Laguarta Appointed CEO
Acquired SodaStream to pioneer eco-friendly dispensing; Ramon Laguarta took over as CEO.
2018Post Holdings
Bob Evans Acquisition
Post expanded refrigerated retail and foodservice exposure.
2022PepsiCo
Strategic Distribution Alliance with Celsius ($550M)
Secured master global distribution for fast-growing energy brand Celsius.
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.
2025Post Holdings
8th Avenue Acquired
Post acquired the remaining interest in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions.
2026PepsiCo
Price Cuts on Core Snacks
Lowered prices on major Frito-Lay brands by up to 15% to recover US volumes.
2026Post Holdings
CEO Transition
Nicolas Catoggio became President and CEO on October 1, 2026.
Acquisitions
PepsiCo
- poppi2025$1.9B
- SodaStream International2018$3.2B
- The Quaker Oats Company (including Gatorade)2001$13.4B
- Tropicana Products1998$3.3B
Post Holdings
- 8th Avenue Food & Provisions2025Undisclosed
- Pet Food Portfolio (J.M. Smucker)2023$1.2B
- Bob Evans Farms2018$1.5B
- Weetabix2017Undisclosed
- MOM Brands (Malt-O-Meal)2015$1.1B
- Michael Foods2014$2.5B
Questions about PepsiCo vs Post Holdings
Who is the CEO of PepsiCo, Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. is led by Ramon Laguarta and Post Holdings, Inc. is led by Nicolas Catoggio. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was PepsiCo, Inc. founded vs Post Holdings, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. was founded in 1965 — 47 years before Post Holdings, Inc., which was founded in 2012. PepsiCo, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Post Holdings, Inc..
How many employees does PepsiCo, Inc. have compared to Post Holdings, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. employs approximately 306,000 people, while Post Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 13,180. PepsiCo, Inc. has the larger workforce at 306,000 employees, compared to Post Holdings, Inc.'s 13,180. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are PepsiCo, Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc. headquartered?
Both PepsiCo, Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded PepsiCo, Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. was founded by Caleb Bradham, Donald M. Kendall, Herman W. Lay. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded by William P. Stiritz.
Which company has a longer operating history — PepsiCo, Inc. or Post Holdings, Inc.?
PepsiCo, Inc. has been operating for approximately 61 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Post Holdings, Inc. has been in operation for around 14 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 PepsiCo vs Post Holdings overview