UPDATE 8/13/06: NOOYI PROMOTED AND APPOINTED CEO OF PEPSI…

UPDATE (2) 8/14/06: THE PROBLEM WITH INDRA NOOYI

UPDATE (3) 8/15/06: BUSINESS WEEK’S TAKE ON INDRA…

Looks like PepsiCo is positioning to become the beverage of choice for all liberals. Today they announced Indra Nooyi will assume global leadership of PepsiCo. Nooyi was at the center of a controversy
recently where she accused America of giving the middle-finger to the
rest of the world during a business school commencement speech. Her
comments generated significant bad press and PepsiCo’s so-called apologies after the fact were insulting.

Considering Pepsi’s TRADITIONAL American roots, Nooyi’s appointment
will alienate at least half of their American customer base. I’m
baffled by how tone deaf Pepsi has become especially after their first
run-in with Indra. Be interesting to see how this plays out. Are you
telling me that PepsiCo didn’t have an equally competent and less
divisive candidate than Nooyi? Even Wall Street analysts were surprised
by the suddenness of the Nooyi appointment.

MORE 8/13/06 UPDATES:

Bill Hobs thoughts here.

Independent conservative here…

Bullwinkles here…

Kerfuffles here

+++++++++++Begin Original Post….

We’ve written in prior posts about Pepsi’s clumsy response to the Indra Nooyi controversy. Charmaine Yoest covered it in detail here. Now another Pepsi goof to report…

I am sitting here watching the opening entertainment for the new NFL season and one of the "star" performers is Kanye West. Yes, the same Kanye West who spewed one of the most ignorant and hate-filled diatribes during a live TV benefit for Katrina survivors earlier this week.  His "performance" this evening was followed up by a Pepsi TV spot starring Kanye West. It turned my stomach. Not enought to turn off the game, after all it is the Raiders and the Stones are playing live… but enough that I’m done with Pepsi. Safeway’s generic cola will work just fine.

And who the hell is doing the programming at ABC and the NFL? I’ve figured out Indra Nooyi’s calling the brand strategy at Pepsi… but come on ABC this is the NFL and it’s Monday Night Football!!! Michelle Branch? Maroon 5? Green Day? Give me a break.

09.09.05 UPDATE: According to the Drudge Report and the Boston Globe I wasn’t the only one insulted by Kanye West. Seems as if his performance last night was greeted by thunderous boos inside the Patriots stadium. YEEHAWWW! God bless America! Now the question is – will Pepsi hear the catcalls?

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