Donald M. Kendall
| Donald M. Kendall | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Donald Mcintosh Kendall March 16, 1921 Sequim, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman, political adviser |
Donald Mcintosh "Don" Kendall (born March 16, 1921) is a former businessman and political adviser. He is a former CEO of Pepsi Cola (which merged with Herman Lay's Frito Lay, Inc. to become PepsiCo in 1965) and served as CEO of PepsiCo from 1971 to 1986.
He was born in Clallam County, Washington, where his family owned a dairy farm, in 1921.
In 1942 he joined the US Navy. As a bomber pilot he assisted in the Landings at Manila Bay, Mindoro and Leyte Gulf. He was awarded 3 Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Kendall attended Western Kentucky State College. He is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Stetson University, DeLand, Florida; an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts; and a Doctor of Law from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Kendall also received Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York; Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York; the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase; and Long Island University, Brookville, New York.
He joined Pepsi Cola Company as a sales representative and rose through the sales ranks becoming a marketing vice president in 1956. He headed up Pepsi's international operation in 1957 and became president in 1963. In 1963, he made the decision to change the name of Pepsi's diet soda from Patio Diet Cola to Diet Pepsi. In the early years of diet soft drinks, Pepsi became the first major soda manufacturer to give its diet product the same name as its flagship product.
Kendall brought Pepsi to Russia and was awarded the Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, in 2004. He oversaw the creation of the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens, a sculpture park that includes gardens, trails and parks a collection of art, primarily 20th century sculpture including works by Rodin, Wynn and Calder, at PepsiCo's corporate headquarters in Purchase, New York.
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