WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-UAE Business Program named Eugene Willemsen, Chief Executive Officer for Africa, Middle East, South Asia at PepsiCo, as its new chair, effective June 2023.
“We are honored to have Eugene Willemsen join us at this pivotal time as the U.S. and the UAE continue to strengthen the bilateral commercial relationship,” said Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President for International Member Relations, and Senior Vice President for Middle East & Turkey. “Willemsen brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the business environment in the UAE and opportunities for American companies. We are fortunate to continue our work in the UAE under his leadership.”
Eugene Willemsen is the Chief Executive Officer for Africa, Middle East and South Asia (AMESA) at PepsiCo. Eugene’s PepsiCo career spans over 28 years across multiple geographies. Under Eugene’s leadership, PepsiCo in AMESA enables several core sustainability initiatives guided by the principles and objectives of PepsiCo Positive (pep+).
The UAE is a strategically important market for PepsiCo, with Dubai serving as AMESA’s headquarters. Over the last six decades, PepsiCo has expanded its operations across AMESA from its UAE headquarters. Eugene’s appointment as PepsiCo’s AMESA CEO in 2019 has seen PepsiCo’s focus in region pivot significantly to advancing sustainability initiatives and connecting more meaningfully with regulatory stakeholders on issues of mutual interest.
PepsiCo was the Official Beverage and Snack Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai and is now the Official Beverage and Snack partner of the Museum of the Future where it showcases the latest innovations in sustainable food systems, and beverage and retail experiences set to transform the F&B industry. In line with UAE’s Year of Sustainability and in the lead up to COP28, PepsiCo plans to use its scale and influence to effect systemic change by streamlining efforts through targeted investment, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and active partnerships across its entire value chain.
“We’ve called the UAE home for more than 60 years and are inspired by its spirit and energy as it continues to set an example for positive and transformational leadership across the region. PepsiCo is proud to lead the U.S.- UAE Business Program’s efforts to boost trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and the UAE, while simultaneously promoting wider and more sustainable ways of working for the benefit of all stakeholders in the lead up to COP28,” said Willemsen.
The Chamber’s U.S.-UAE Business Program promotes the vital relationship by working to grow bilateral trade and investment and serving as the strategic commercial partner on behalf of the U.S. business community for both governments. In recent years, the Program has worked closely with the UAE Embassy in Washington to emphasize key areas of innovation in knowledge-based sectors such as sustainability, digital transformation, and life sciences.
