Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson are two leaders with very different paths to the top. Laguarta is the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. He was born in Barcelona, Spain, and PepsiCo’s 2026 proxy statement lists his age as 62. Hewson led Lockheed Martin as CEO from 2013 to 2020. She was born in Junction City, Kansas, around 1954, and a company profile lists her age as 72.
This guide compares their careers, leadership styles and strategies in simple terms. You will also find their 2026 updates, key lessons and a fact check. Exact birth dates are not confirmed in the public sources I found, so I used age and birth year only. Add a full date only if you can verify it from an official source.
Table of Contents
Who Is Ramon Laguarta?
Ramon Laguarta is the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. He was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. He holds an MBA from ESADE Business School and a Master of Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
He became CEO in October 2018. He took the chairman role in 2019. PepsiCo’s 2026 proxy statement lists his age as 62.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ramon L. Laguarta |
| Birthplace | Barcelona, Spain |
| Age | 62 (2026 proxy statement) |
| Current role | Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo |
| CEO since | 2018 |
| Chairman since | 2019 |
| Education | ESADE MBA, Thunderbird Master of Management |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German, Greek |
| Outside boards | IBM (from March 1, 2026), Business Roundtable |
Ramon Laguarta’s Career at PepsiCo
Laguarta spent about 30 years at PepsiCo. Before that, he worked at Chupa Chups. There he held international assignments across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
He joined PepsiCo in 1996 as a marketing vice president for Spain Snacks. His climb was steady and mostly in Europe.
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Marketing vice president, Spain Snacks |
| 2006 to 2008 | Commercial vice president, PepsiCo Europe |
| 2008 to 2012 | Head of the Eastern Europe region |
| 2012 to 2015 | President, Developing and Emerging Markets, Europe |
| 2015 to 2017 | CEO, Europe and Sub Saharan Africa |
| 2017 to 2018 | President of PepsiCo |
| 2018 | Chief executive officer |
| 2019 | Chairman of the board |
One milestone stands out. He led the acquisition and integration of PepsiCo’s dairy business in Russia. That deal showed he could run a complex deal on the ground, not only in a boardroom.
Ramon Laguarta’s Leadership Strategy
Laguarta built his plan around three pillars. PepsiCo describes them as portfolio transformation, international expansion and winning more consumption occasions, with products available everywhere.
In practice, this meant buying and growing brands beyond classic soda and chips. Examples include Rockstar energy drinks, Pioneer Foods in South Africa and Siete Foods. He also pushed a company vision called PepsiCo Positive.
His style has three clear traits:
- Focus on operations. He says vision only matters when it turns into execution.
- Technology at scale. IBM praised his record of using technology to transform large organizations.
- Global thinking. His career spans dozens of markets.
He also faces pressure. Activist investor Elliott disclosed a large stake, and a 2026 shareholder proposal asked for a separate chair. It received about 25.8 percent support and failed.
Who Is Marillyn Hewson?
Marillyn Hewson is the former chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin. She was born in Junction City, Kansas. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Alabama. Company profiles list her age as 72. Reports place her birth around 1954.
She served as CEO from 2013 to June 2020. She then became executive chairman until March 2021. Her name is often spelled Marilyn online, but the correct spelling is Marillyn.
Marillyn Hewson’s Professional Background
Hewson joined Lockheed Martin in 1983 as an industrial engineer. She stayed for 38 years. That kind of loyalty is rare at the top of a Fortune 500 company.
Her path moved through operations and business units:
- She was president of the Owego facility in New York until January 2010.
- She then became executive vice president of the Electronic Systems business.
- She was named president and chief operating officer, and joined the board in 2012.
- She became CEO on January 1, 2013, after her predecessor resigned following an ethics investigation.
That last point matters. She took the top job during a tense moment and had to steady the company fast. After retiring, she served as a strategic advisor to the CEO for a short period. Her honors include membership in the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Marillyn Hewson’s Approach to Business Leadership
Hewson led through a period of steady financial performance and growth. Lockheed’s own board described her as one of its most successful and respected leaders.
Her approach rested on a few habits:
- Deep program knowledge. She came up through engineering and operations.
- Customer focus. Defense work depends on long government relationships.
- Portfolio moves. The 2015 purchase of Sikorsky expanded Lockheed’s helicopter business.
- Steady communication. She kept a calm public tone during contract and budget debates.
Her story shows how an insider can lead a very large company without drama. She also sat on outside boards, including Chevron and Johnson & Johnson.
Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson: Key Differences
The two leaders share a base. Both are insiders who earned the top role after decades at one company. Their differences are just as useful to study.
| Area | Ramon Laguarta | Marillyn Hewson |
|---|---|---|
| Company | PepsiCo | Lockheed Martin |
| Industry | Food and beverages | Aerospace and defense |
| Entry point | Marketing, 1996 | Industrial engineering, 1983 |
| Training | Business and management | Engineering and operations |
| Customers | Millions of consumers | Governments and agencies |
| Top job | CEO since 2018 | CEO 2013 to 2020 |
| Current status | Active chairman and CEO | Retired executive, board member |
In short, Laguarta sells to the public. Hewson sold to governments. That one fact shapes almost every strategic choice they made.
Leadership Across Two Industries
Consumer goods move fast. Tastes shift, social media spreads trends and shelf space is a daily fight. Laguarta has to win over shoppers again and again. Defense works on a slower clock. Programs run for decades. A single contract can define a decade of revenue.
Hewson had to manage political risk, safety standards and long production cycles. Still, both leaders manage scale. They oversee huge supply chains, large workforces and global operations. The skill that carries across both worlds is disciplined execution.
Business Strategy and Long Term Growth
Laguarta grows by widening the portfolio. PepsiCo adds new categories, enters new regions and tries to meet more daily moments, from snacks to drinks.
Hewson grew by deepening core programs and adding capabilities. Sikorsky was a clear example. It gave Lockheed a stronger position in rotary aircraft.
| Strategy area | Laguarta at PepsiCo | Hewson at Lockheed Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Growth method | New brands and categories | Core programs and acquisitions |
| Market focus | Global consumers | Government customers |
| Risk | Changing tastes, investor pressure | Budget cycles, contract changes |
| Time horizon | Quarterly and multi year | Multi decade programs |
Why People Search for “Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson”
This search pairing is common for a few reasons. None of them prove a personal link.
- Both are famous CEOs who rose from inside their firms.
- Both appear on lists of top business leaders.
- Both are linked to the boards of large public companies.
- People search two names together when they read an article that mentions both.
There is also an indirect corporate overlap. Joaquin Duato, chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, was elected to PepsiCo’s board effective December 1, 2026. Hewson has served as a Johnson & Johnson director. That is a loose overlap in the business world. It is not proof that Laguarta and Hewson worked together.
Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson Compared Side by Side
Here is a quick snapshot you can scan in seconds.
| Category | Ramon Laguarta | Marillyn Hewson |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Barcelona, Spain | Junction City, Kansas |
| Age | 62 | About 72 |
| Education | ESADE, Thunderbird | University of Alabama |
| Years at main company | About 30 | 38 |
| Years as CEO | 2018 to present | 2013 to 2020 |
| Known for | PepsiCo portfolio change | Lockheed growth and Sikorsky |
| Outside boards | IBM | Chevron, Johnson & Johnson |
Where They Are Now: 2026 Update
Laguarta remains chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. He joined the IBM board on March 1, 2026. PepsiCo also said independent director Cesar Conde would become presiding director on May 6, 2026, subject to a shareholder vote.
Shareholders re elected all 13 directors at the 2026 meeting. PepsiCo then announced Joaquin Duato as a new independent director, effective December 1, 2026.
Hewson no longer holds an executive role at Lockheed Martin. She left its board in March 2021. Company and academy profiles list her as a director at Chevron and Johnson & Johnson. Board seats change, so check recent filings before you publish a claim.
Age, Family and Net Worth: What Is Actually Known
Age is the easiest fact to confirm. Laguarta is 62 according to PepsiCo’s 2026 proxy statement. Hewson is listed as 72 on a company leadership page. Family details are another matter. Neither executive has shared much about private life in the sources reviewed here. Anything beyond that should be treated as unconfirmed.
Net worth is the most abused number online. Please note the limits:
- A financial data site reports Laguarta’s yearly pay at about 28.8 million dollars. That is pay, not wealth.
- Market trackers list Hewson’s holdings at a few million dollars. That counts only disclosed shares.
- Nobody outside their families can verify full net worth.
The honest answer is that no reliable net worth figure exists for either leader.
Leadership Takeaways From Both Careers
A few lessons show up in both stories.
- Start inside and learn the business deeply.
- Accept hard assignments, especially in difficult regions or moments.
- Build trust with boards, investors and customers.
- Keep strategy tied to execution.
- Stay calm when the company is under pressure.
Fact Check: Errors to Watch For
The web is full of mix ups. Use this table before you quote anything.
| Common claim | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| They worked together | No direct partnership is documented in the sources reviewed |
| Hewson leads Lockheed today | No. She retired from the board in 2021 |
| Laguarta is retired | No. He is chairman and CEO of PepsiCo |
| Both ran the same company | No. PepsiCo and Lockheed Martin are separate |
| The name is Marilyn Hewson | The spelling is Marillyn |
| Exact net worth is known | No verified figure exists for either person |
How to Check Executive Connections Yourself
You do not need a paid tool. Public records are enough.
- Read the proxy statement (DEF 14A) of each company. It lists directors, ages and bios.
- Check the leadership pages on each company website.
- Search press releases on the company newsroom and on wire services.
- Look at board lists on sites such as SEC filings.
- Compare dates carefully. Overlapping years are the key test.
If two names never appear in the same filing, announcement or event, do not claim a link.
Leadership Lessons from Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson
Both careers prove that long tenure can build real authority. They also show that leaders need different tools in different settings.
Laguarta teaches adaptability and bold portfolio choices. Hewson teaches patience and mastery of complex programs. A good manager can borrow from both.
The Value of Experience and Career Development
Neither leader jumped straight to the top. Laguarta spent years in European markets. Hewson spent years in engineering and plant leadership. That experience gave them credibility. Employees trust leaders who understand the work.
You can apply this in your own career:
- Take roles that stretch you.
- Learn operations, not only strategy.
- Spend time in different regions or teams.
Adapting to Industry Changes
Industries change quickly. Consumer habits move toward health, convenience and new drink categories. Defense moves with technology and shifting budgets.
Laguarta responded by reshaping the portfolio and investing in technology. Hewson responded by buying capabilities such as Sikorsky. The lesson is simple. Watch your market and adjust before you are forced to.
Building Effective Teams
Top leaders do not work alone. Both executives led very large teams across many countries and functions.
Good team building often includes:
- Clear goals and shared vocabulary.
- Promotion from within when talent is ready.
- Honest reviews and regular feedback.
- Board and investor alignment.
What Business Owners Can Learn from Their Careers
You may run a small firm, not a global giant. The same ideas still work at any size.
| Lesson | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Know your core | Master your main product before you expand |
| Grow with a plan | Add new lines only when you can execute them |
| Stay close to customers | Listen to buyers every week |
| Develop people | Train staff for bigger roles |
| Check facts | Verify before you publish or decide |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson related?
No public source shows any family link between them.
Did Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson work together?
No direct work partnership is documented in the sources reviewed.
Who is Ramon Laguarta?
He is the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, in the CEO role since 2018.
Who is Marillyn Hewson?
She is the former chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin.
How old is Ramon Laguarta?
PepsiCo’s 2026 proxy statement lists him as 62 years old.
What is Marillyn Hewson doing now?
She is retired from Lockheed Martin and has served on boards such as Chevron and Johnson & Johnson.
Where did Ramon Laguarta study?
He earned an MBA at ESADE in Spain and a Master of Management at Thunderbird.
Final Thoughts
Ramon Laguarta and Marillyn Hewson show two strong ways to reach the top. One built a career in global consumer brands. The other built a career in aerospace and defense. Both started inside their companies and earned trust over decades.
The most important point is accuracy. Their careers are impressive, but no direct link between them is documented. Use public filings, check dates and avoid unverified claims about family or net worth. That is the best way to write about any executive with care.
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