By Mike Esterl 

PepsiCo Inc. named Enderson Guimaraes, chief executive of its European unit, to oversee global operations as the snack and beverage giant overhauls its management bench after some high-level departures.

The company said Monday that Mr. Guimaraes will assume the responsibilities of President Zein Abdalla. It disclosed last month that Mr. Abdalla, widely viewed as a potential successor to Chief Executive Indra Nooyi, would leave PepsiCo at the end of December.

Mr. Guimaraes isn't being given the title of president, which Ms. Nooyi held before becoming CEO in 2006. Mr. Guimaraes, who joined PepsiCo in 2011, will instead assume the title of Executive Vice President, Global Categories and Operations.

That suggests there is still no clear No. 2 to Ms. Nooyi, who is 59 years old and hasn't indicated any plans to step down anytime soon. Brian Cornell left PepsiCo this summer to become CEO at Target Corp. John Compton, another potential successor, left PepsiCo in 2012.

Ms. Nooyi came under fire from investors in 2011 after the company missed profit targets and lost market share to beverage rival Coca-Cola Co. But PepsiCo's fortunes have improved since she introduced a restructuring program in 2012. The company raised its profit forecast in October for the second time this year and its share price reached a 52-week high last week.

The improving results have helped Ms. Nooyi fend off activist shareholder Nelson Peltz, whose Trian Fund Management LP is campaigning to split PepsiCo's beverage business from its more profitable snacks business. In addition to its namesake cola, PepsiCo's billion-dollar retail brands include Lay's potato chips, Quaker oatmeal, Tropicana orange juice and Gatorade sports drinks.

Mr. Guimaraes, who is Brazilian and in his mid-50s, will be responsible for overseeing PepsiCo's global beverage, snacks and nutrition groups, global procurement and corporate strategy. Because of the company's decentralized structure, though, he won't control a big budget.

The executive joined PepsiCo as president, global operations in 2011 from Electrolux, where he was executive vice president and oversaw the company's major appliances business for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He also served as president of PepsiCo's global nutrition group before becoming CEO of PepsiCo Europe in 2012.

PepsiCo said that Ramon Laguarta will become CEO of PepsiCo Europe. Mr. Laguarta is currently President, Developing & Emerging Markets, PepsiCo Europe. He joined the company in 1996.

Some company observers have questioned the strength of PepsiCo's management bench following several recent high-profile exits. Debra Crew, another senior executive, left PepsiCo this fall to become president and chief commercial officer at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

In a statement, Ms. Nooyi said PepsiCo "enjoys a deep bench of leaders across the company." Messrs. Guimaraes and Laguarta are "highly skilled operators" with "impressive performance track records," she added.

Hugh Johnston, who joined PepsiCo in 1987 and became chief financial officer in 2010, has long been viewed as a dark-horse candidate to eventually succeed Ms. Nooyi. Some company observers have speculated Ms. Nooyi could at some point give Mr. Johnston added responsibilities, including possibly the title of president.

A company spokesman declined Monday to comment on any future management changes, including the potential naming of a companywide president.

In addition to Ms. Nooyi and Mr. Abdalla, Mr. Compton also briefly held the title of president before leaving PepsiCo.

Write to Mike Esterl at mike.esterl@wsj.com

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