PepsiCo Beverages Canada names new president

Jason Blake is the new president of PepsiCo Beverages Canada.

As of April 1, 2024, Blake will oversee all aspects of the business and lead its more than 5,000 employees across Canada.

He will be at the helm of an end-to-end leadership team of executives tasked with achieving critical business and people objectives.  

Blake has been a PepsiCo executive for more than 16 years across two different stints with the company. He was most recently the SVP, commercial for PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) South Division, based out of Orlando, where he oversaw revenue growth, market share and margin development across all selling functions.

Prior to this role, he served as PBNA’s chief sustainability officer, where he led the beverage sustainability agenda and played a critical role in the creation and rollout of PepsiCo Positive.

As senior vice president, customer management and channel strategy for Frito Lay North America based out of Dallas, Blake was responsible for management of PepsiCo’s largest customer relationships, including Costco, channel strategy for its national grocery business and capturing new growth in e-commerce and warehouse.

He has held roles across food and beverages in customer management, channel strategy and retail sales after beginning his career in corporate strategy and development.

Blake will replace Mike Ruff, a 25-year PepsiCo vet, who will step into the role of president of PBNA North Division following Richard Glover’s retirement.

Ruff assumed the role of PepsiCo Beverages Canada president in May 2021.

Anomaly names new head of transformation

Anomaly has named Ariba Jahan as head of transformation, North America.

Jahan will help clients shape experiences, products and content to drive change across their business, with a “keen focus on guiding the future of responsible technology and business transformation.” Based in New York, Jahan will work across Anomaly offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

“[She] was the perfect choice for this vital leadership role – technological know-how combined with ambition, innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial drive,” says Carl Johnson, Anomaly founding partner and executive chairman.

Jahan steps into her new position after most recently serving as VP of product experience and innovation at the Ad Council.

Mosaic North America promotes Tracy Markos

Integrated marketing agency Mosaic North America has promoted Tracy Markos to the role of group account director.

Markos has worked across a variety of roles in two stints with Mosaic North America since first being hired to the company in 2008, most recently working as a senior director. Markos also previously worked as the senior director of Cubert’s Go-to-Market team. Throughout her time at Mosaic, she’s previously worked as a field manager, account manager and senior account manager.

Strategic Objectives has a celebratory drink with Edrington

Strategic Objectives has been named the PR agency of record in Canada for the international premium spirits company, Edrington.

In the new relationship, the shop will be responsible for brands such as The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes. The intention is to consolidate all PR activities for Edrington brands in Canada under a single agency partner.

Strategic won the remit after an RFP process initiated in 2023.

With files from Andrew Jeffrey