Current Role and Responsibilities
Athina Kanioura serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at PepsiCo, a position she has held since her appointment in September 2020. This role is newly created within PepsiCo to drive corporate-wide strategic initiatives and comprehensive transformation. She reports directly to PepsiCo’s Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta.
In her capacity, Kanioura oversees PepsiCo’s end-to-end digitization and transformation strategy aimed at evolving the company into a "Faster, Stronger and Better" organization. Her scope includes leading company-wide digital modernization efforts blending cloud technology, advanced analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence to optimize operations and enhance customer value. Under her leadership, PepsiCo has accelerated its digital strategy aimed at winning as a total company and in key markets worldwide.
Professional Background and Expertise
Prior to joining PepsiCo, Athina Kanioura amassed over 13 years at Accenture, where she culminated her tenure as Chief Analytics Officer and Global Head of Applied Intelligence. At Accenture, she specialized in embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven strategies into client businesses, spearheading customer analytics initiatives, and establishing centers of excellence, notably the global Customer Analytics Center of Excellence in Athens, Greece.
Her experience spans diverse sectors including telecommunications, oil and gas, financial services, and consumer packaged goods, having collaborated with multinational companies such as Mondelez, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Reckitt Benckiser. Kanioura is recognized as a transformation leader and accomplished innovator with deep expertise in artificial intelligence, macroeconomics, econometrics, and data science.
Education
Athina Kanioura holds a PhD in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics from the University of Sheffield (2002–2005). She also completed graduate studies and earned degrees at University College London (UK) and the University of Sheffield, with a strong academic foundation in economics, statistics, and mathematics. Her academic career included professor-level teaching and research in mathematics, statistics, and economics before transitioning fully to consultancy and corporate leadership.
Strategic Impact at PepsiCo
Since her appointment, Kanioura has been instrumental in transforming PepsiCo’s operational model through digitization. She is responsible for orchestrating initiatives that integrate AI and analytics to increase efficiency and drive data-powered decision-making across the organization’s global footprint. Her leadership is linked to PepsiCo's enhanced capacity to recommend and implement AI solutions, effectively shaping the company's future-ready workforce and improving customer experiences.
PepsiCo products, enjoyed over one billion times daily in more than 200 countries and territories, benefit from the digital strategies she champions, which include large-scale adoption of cloud computing and automation. Kanioura positions PepsiCo at the forefront of technology-driven consumer goods innovation and operational excellence.
Professional Recognition and Industry Engagement
Athina Kanioura is acknowledged among influential leaders shaping the future of retail and consumer goods. She was named one of the honorees on the “List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2025” by the NRF Foundation and recognized as the #1 Female Impact Voice for Greece by Favikon in March 2025.
She is a frequent speaker and participant in global AI and business transformation forums such as the World Summit AI, Business Transformation 150™, and other industry-leading conferences. Her thought leadership often focuses on the ethical and effective use of AI in business contexts, workforce transformation, and diversity in technology.
Location and Corporate Context
Kanioura is based in Purchase, New York, where PepsiCo’s headquarters are located. As part of PepsiCo’s senior executive team, she plays a significant role in the company’s drive for shareholder value, aligning strategic initiatives with the organization’s financial goals and market positioning.
PepsiCo continues to be recognized as one of Fortune Magazine’s Most Admired Companies, ranking #1 in its industry category, a status supported by the transformational strategies led by Kanioura and her team.
This detailed profile reflects Athina Kanioura’s strategic influence, extensive expertise in AI-driven transformation, and leadership role steering PepsiCo’s digital and operational evolution at the highest levels of the organization.
