PURCHASE, N.Y., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP), one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, has been named to the 2009 list of Global Top Companies for Leaders. Conducted by Hewitt Associates, a global consulting and outsourcing company, in partnership with The RBL Group, a strategic HR and leadership systems advisory firm, and Fortune, the Global Top Companies for Leaders is the most comprehensive study of organizational leadership in the world. An expert panel of independent judges selected and ranked winners based on criteria including strength of leadership practices and culture, examples of leader development on a global scale, impact of leadership in communities in which they operate, business performance and company reputation. PepsiCo, with corporate headquarters in Purchase, N.Y. and 198,000 employees in more than 200 countries, was named to the list for the first time. The company is committed to "Performance with Purpose," which is a mission to achieve business and financial success while leaving a positive imprint on society. This is a continuing journey that includes meeting consumer needs for a spectrum of convenient foods and beverages, reducing the company's impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives, and supporting its employees through a diverse and inclusive culture that recruits and retains world-class talent, or "talent sustainability." Talent Sustainability ensures that the organization fosters an inclusive environment, increases female and minority representation in management ranks, engages employees in health and wellness programs and creates rewarding job opportunities for people with different abilities. When comparing the Global Top Companies with more than 500 other companies around the world, Hewitt identified one distinguishing characteristic that sets them apart from their peers -- even during the economic downturn, Global Top Companies remained committed to building leadership capability within their organizations. In other words, tighter budgets and fewer resources forced these organizations to think and act smarter and more creatively about what really mattered when it came to leadership -- but they didn't lose focus. "In a competitive global economy, our employees are our most crucial resource. Now more than ever, it's critical that we sharpen our focus on talent development and ensure that PepsiCo is among the top destinations for the world's best people," said Cynthia Trudell, SVP, HR and chief personnel officer, PepsiCo. "We are dedicated to providing learning experiences to empower our associates, help them realize their potential and achieve success." "Hewitt would like to congratulate PepsiCo as being named one of the Global Top Companies for Leaders," said Bob Gandossy, global practice leader of Hewitt's Leadership Consulting practice. "All global companies today are facing a number of complex business and economic challenges. Through our research, it's clear that Global Top Companies, such as PepsiCo, do not abandon key leadership and talent efforts in favor of short-term goals. Leaders at these organizations are passionate and committed. They have an intense focus on talent and their leadership programs are practical, relevant and aligned with business goals--in good times and in bad. This mindset is not only what sets Global Top Companies apart from the rest, it's what differentiates successful businesses from unsuccessful ones." About the Global Top Companies for Leaders Survey The Global Top Companies for Leaders Study includes 537 organizations with an average employee size of 31,443. Approximately two-thirds (65 percent) of the participating companies had revenues of $100 million or more. Nearly 42 percent have operations in all regions around the globe. Hewitt, The RBL Group and Fortune utilized a three-step screening process to identify the finalist companies. This included assessing survey responses, conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing financial performance in relation to industry. Hewitt provided this information to a panel of independent judges in each region to select and rank a 2009 Top Companies for Leaders list in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. A separate independent judging panel, composed of one representative from each regional panel, considered all regional Top Companies to select and rank a Global Top Companies for Leaders list. About PepsiCo PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries. With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.pepsico.com/. DATASOURCE: PepsiCo, Inc. CONTACT: Dave DeCecco, +1-914-253-2655, , or Michelle Naughton, +1-914-253-2950, Web Site: http://www.pepsico.com/

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