SOMERS, N.Y. -- The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (NYSE: PBG) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Steven M. Rapp Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of PBG. An 18-year veteran of the Pepsi system, Mr. Rapp, 51, replaces Pamela C. McGuire, 57, who has been appointed Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Business Practices and Compliance for PepsiCo, Inc. Both will assume their new duties on January 3, 2005.
In making the announcement, John T. Cahill, PBG Chairman and CEO, said, "Steve brings a wide breadth of experience to the role of General Counsel. He was an important player in PBG's initial public offering and led the legal work on all of the Company's acquisitions, including the acquisition of the largest Pepsi bottler in Mexico. In addition to his legal expertise, Steve is a valued business partner. With his thorough understanding of PBG's business issues, Steve is well-equipped to provide excellent legal counsel."
Commenting on the departure of Ms. McGuire, Cahill said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Pam for her dedicated service to PBG. It is bittersweet to see Pam leave us. She has been a core member of PBG's executive team since the IPO, helping to create the Company's corporate governance principles and establishing a top-notch legal department. We will miss her valuable counsel, but we wish Pam all the best in her new role at PepsiCo."
After several years with the law firm Willkie, Farr, Gallagher, Mr. Rapp joined PepsiCo as a corporate lawyer in 1986. In that role, he handled a wide range of corporate legal issues, focusing on acquisitions and securities law. Following several assignments of increasing responsibility, Mr. Rapp was appointed Division Counsel of Pepsi-Cola Company in 1994. Four years later, he joined PBG, where he was promoted to Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in 1999. Mr. Rapp has led the legal work for PBG in a number of key areas, including acquisitions, financings and public company requirements.
Mr. Rapp earned a bachelor's degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a juris doctorate from St. John's University School of Law.
The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages with operations in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Turkey. To receive news releases by e-mail, please visit http://www.pbg.com.
