PepsiCo Canada has appointed Sarah Shelast as its marketing director of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs).

The role includes supporting brands such as Pepsi, 7Up, Mountain Dew and Mug Root Beer. Shelast said in a LinkedIn post that she will be taking maternity leave in the weeks ahead and will begin her new role when she returns.

Since fall 2024, she has been the senior marketing manager for Pepsi, supporting the brand’s zero-sugar offering and Pepsi Treats, and “strengthened the brand’s cultural relevance in key regional markets across Canada,” a company spokesperson tells strategy.

For the two years prior, Shelast was the senior marketing manager for Gatorade, where she led consumer segmentation and long-term portfolio strategy while spearheading the launch of the G Fit and Gatorlyte sub-lines.

She will report to PepsiCo’s senior marketing director of CSDs, RTDs and alcohol, Laura Gray, and takes over in her new position from Christie Power, who is now handling PepsiCo’s portfolio and partnerships marketing.

Shelast began her career at PepsiCo in 2014 as an assistant marketing manager.

– Image courtesy of PepsiCo