PepsiCo.
Kent leads a cross-functional team in the development and execution of PepsiCo’s strategic roadmap for industry relations inclusive of association and community partnerships across retail and foodservice sectors. Kent and his team partner closely with PepsiCo’s largest business units, including PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA), as well as the PepsiCo Diversity and Inclusion, Sustainability and PEP Foundation offices to build PepsiCo’s reputation with key customers, associations and events — crucial audiences fueling PepsiCo’s overall growth.
In addition, Kent spearheads critical workstreams dedicated to helping address inequalities for historically excluded people and underserved businesses and communities through multicultural thought-leadership efforts, community impact strategy, and talent development, enabling PepsiCo to drive sustained change and scale faster across its North America businesses, with community and purpose at its core.
Kent joined PepsiCo as a campus hire in August 1990 after graduating from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree. He has held several sales, marketing and foodservice leadership positions in several North American markets for PBNA and FLNA. Prior to his current role, he most recently was the VP/GM, PepsiCo Global 7-Eleven Customer Team — the largest C&G chain globally — responsible for over $2.5B in sales across 19 countries. Among many accomplishments, Kent and the PepsiCo 7-Eleven customer team were most recently named supplier of the year in 2020 by 7-Eleven.
Kent continues to be a leader in his community. He has been involved as a board member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the MS Society, the Los Angeles Urban League, and is a former board member of Dallas Parkland Hospital Foundation. Currently, he serves on the board of the Boy Scouts of America Circle Ten Council. Finally, Kent is an active mentor for multiple new managers and PepsiCo junior executives. Kent and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of Austin (23) and Harrison (18) and reside in Plano, Texas.