Suchitra Rajendra has quit Pepsico after a 13-year long tenure as the VP-HR for India region. Earlier, she served as the HR head for Pepsico Asia Pacific, for Thailand, North Asia and Phillipines, before returning to India in 2015.
With more than two decades of rich HR experience in India and Australia, in a variety of sectors ranging from FMCG to consulting and working for not-for-profits, Rajendra joined Pepsi in 2006, armed with a degree in personnel management and industrial relations from XLRI. She grew at a steady pace being promoted first to director, talent sustainability in 2009 and then again to senior director, HR. In 2015, she was given more responsibilities to handle when she was made the VP- human resources, India region.
During her career, she has successfully shouldered several responsibilities, including setting up the processes and strategy of learning for Fritolay, and heading the talent acquisition division. She has also worked with Cebebrus Consultants and WorkVentures as an HR consultant.
She firmly advocates diversity and inclusion and is a certified facilitator of the D&I pedagogy. She has spoken about the ways in which organisations can create a more diverse and inclusive culture.
According to reports, there are two candidates being considered as likely successors of Rajendra, and one of them is Pavitra Singh, who is a senior HR professional at the company.
