Current CEO of PepsiCo Australia Danny Celoni will leave the snacks and beverage business to lead Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) from February 2022.
Asahi Beverages Oceania Group CEO Robert Iervasi said Celoni had built a formidable reputation in the beverage sector over the last 25 years.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Danny over his time with PepsiCo, one of Asahi Beverages’ key strategic partners. We’ve observed first-hand his ability to understand and deliver great results for his customers, and build exceptional teams,” Iervasi said.
Celoni said it had been privilege leading the ANZ PepsiCo team.
“PepsiCo is a fantastic business, and I have enjoyed every minute. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. I know they will continue to take the business from strength to strength,” Celoni said.
PepsiCo APAC CEO Wern-Yuen Tan said Celoni had led significant growth in the Australian and New Zealand business.
“We will miss his energy and passion,” Tan said. “We wish him all the best in his new role. We will be announcing his successor in due course.”
Celoni was sales director at PepsiCo for 18 months before stepping into the CEO role in 2018. He joined the company after almost 17 years with Diageo.
Under his leadership, PepsiCo completed a $37 million plant upgrade of its Regency Park manufacturing facility in South Australia and renewed its exclusive bottling partnership with Asahi Lifestyle Beverages. Asahi bottles PepsiCo master beverage brands Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Gatorade, Mountain Dew and 7UP.
He has led a number of sustainability initiatives, including the company becoming the first large food FMCG business in Australia to move to 100 per cent recyclable packaging across its entire snacks range.
He oversaw the company’s switch to canola oil, which reduced the saturated fat in some products by as much as 86 per cent.
“Danny has built a formidable reputation across the beverages industry in Australia and Asia over 25 years. Danny’s proven ability to successfully run large and complex businesses, across alcohol and non-alcohol, was critical in our decision to recruit him to become our new CEO of CUB.
“With Danny’s forward-thinking approach to business, he’s going to make a very significant contribution to building our teams, delivering on our strategies for growth, and forging great relationships with our customers and partners,” Iervasi said.
Celoni said, “It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to lead CUB and join Asahi Beverages. With its unrivalled beverage portfolio and commitment to innovation, I’m excited by the strategic direction and growth opportunities for the business.
“I’m particularly looking forward to working with CUB’s customers and partners as we seek to navigate the evolving COVID-normal environment and the other challenges that lie ahead.”
Peter Filipovic will continue as CEO until Celoni commences in February.
