Purchase / NY. (pci) PepsiCo Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has elected Darren Walker as an independent member of the Board, effective September 21, 2016. Walker, 56, currently serves as President of the Ford Foundation, the second largest private foundation in the United States, and also chairs the United States National Advisory Board on Impact Investing.
«Darren’s unique understanding of business and social issues has made him a respected leader across sectors for more than two decades», said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. «His insight into the role of business in society will be particularly valuable as we continue to drive our Performance with Purpose agenda and pursue strategies to drive sustainable long-term growth».
Prior to joining the Ford Foundation in 2010, Walker served as Vice President at the Rockefeller Foundation since 2005, where he oversaw numerous initiatives, including the effort to rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Walker also served as chief operating officer of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, Harlem’s largest community development organization, from 1995 to 2002. During his tenure, he oversaw a comprehensive revitalization program resulting in more than 1’000 new units of housing, Harlem’s first commercial development in twenty years and New York’s first public school built and managed by a community organization. Earlier in his career, Walker worked in international law and finance at Cleary Gottlieb Steen + Hamilton and UBS.
«We welcome Darren to the PepsiCo Board of Directors», said Ian Cook, Presiding Director. «His experience and expertise across sectors will further strengthen the Board and our ability to create shareholder value».
Walker currently serves as a member of the boards of Carnegie Hall, the New York City Ballet, Friends of the High Line and the Arcus Foundation. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was named one of the «100 Most Influential People in the World» by Time magazine in 2016. He holds a J.D., B.S. and B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.
