PepsiCo on Thursday announced the appointment of Ramon Laguarta, a 20-year veteran of the beverage giant as President, filling the number-two position in the company and a slot that has been vacant since 2014 when the former president, Zein Abdalla left the firm.

In his new role, the 53-year old Laguarta will oversee PepsiCo’s global category groups; its global operations, corporate strategy, and public policy, and government affairs, as well as PepsiCo’s Foundation.