PepsiCo has appointed Karim Khedr as the Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for its Egypt business and Mohamed Shelbaya as the Senior VP and CEO for the Middle East & North Africa Beverage FOBO, effective January 2025.  

In his new role, Khedr brings over 24 years of industry leadership experience. He joined PepsiCo in 2009 and has risen to leadership roles over the past 15 years. Most recently, he served as the General Manager & VP for the Saudi Arabia, Yemen & Jordan Cluster, and prior to that, he held the role of VP of Beverages - Southeast Asia and Senior Sales Director & New Business Development for MENA. Before joining PepsiCo, he worked with Cadbury in Egypt and ExxonMobil, overseeing North Africa operations.  

Sharing the transition news on LinkedIn, Khedr posted, “Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’ve formed deep connections and shared meaningful achievements with your team. However, it also opens the door to exciting new opportunities. I’m proud to share that I’ve been appointed as Senior Vice President and General Manager of PepsiCo Egypt. After several amazing years in Saudi Arabia, I’m thrilled to return to PepsiCo Egypt—a place I called home nine years ago. Egypt’s energy and vibrancy are truly unmatched, and I’m excited to lead in a market full of strength, resilience, and cherished friendships.”  

“Last week was my first week at the PepsiCo Egypt office, and I had the privilege of meeting the passionate and dedicated teams here. Their commitment is truly inspiring, and I’m eager to collaborate with them to continue building on the incredible milestones that have made Egypt one of PepsiCo’s largest global markets.”  

Khedr also extended his best wishes to Shelbaya, who has been overseeing Egypt operations since 2017. Meanwhile, Shelbaya brings over three decades of industry leadership experience. He joined PepsiCo in the UAE in 1994 as the Marketing Director for the GCC region and has since risen into key roles, including Chairman and CEO of the Egypt Commercial Unit, SVP of the North Africa Snacks business, and Chairman & CEO of Egypt and SVP of North Africa. At the beginning of his career, he worked with Saatchi & Saatchi Middle East.  

Announcing his leadership transition to his LinkedIn community, Shelbaya posted, “I am thrilled to announce that I am stepping into an exciting new role as PepsiCo’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Middle East and North Africa Franchise-Owned Bottling Operations (FOBO). This region presents a wealth of opportunities for growth and innovation, and I eagerly embrace this new chapter to achieve new milestones alongside the amazing teams in the Middle East and North Africa.”  

He also reflected on his tenure at PepsiCo Egypt, stating, “I am deeply grateful for this remarkable journey filled with challenges, successes, and unforgettable moments. Together, we have introduced innovative products, launched campaigns that resonated with our consumers, and initiated programs that have made a lasting social impact in our communities. To my leadership team—some of the most talented individuals I’ve ever had the honor to work with—and the 14,000+ incredible associates at PepsiCo Egypt, thank you for embodying our spirit and values. You are the beating heart of our success, and I will carry the memories of our shared journey with me always.”  

He also welcomed Khedr, who takes over responsibilities for Egypt operations, “As I pass the baton to my friend Karim Khedr, I do so with complete confidence that under his leadership, the team will continue to innovate and excel. Let’s continue to push boundaries and create success together.”  

You may also like:

• Trending in 2025: AI, Green Skills, and the Future of Work
• 75% of workers in UAE & KSA seeking new jobs, Yet HRs struggling to find the right talent
• Bringing sustainability in tech and fostering Legal & HR synergy: Niki Armstrong

PepsiCo is facing setbacks due to the geopolitical crisis in the region and is making efforts to stabilise growth and operations, although expectations for 2025 are not particularly hopeful. In Egypt, it saw double-digit growth in organic revenue last year despite the challenges. Leadership reshuffles are part of ensuring business sustainability. In 2024, Ahmed El Sheikh was appointed as the CEO of MENA, Pakistan and Egypt Beverages. He previously oversaw India, Egypt, and Saudi Operations.