New York University President John Sexton today bestowed an honorary doctorate on the PepsiCo Inc. chair and CEO Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi at NYUs 176th Commencement Exercises in Yankee Stadium. Over 25,000 graduates, faculty, staff, and guests attended the morning ceremony.
The following citation was read in conferring the Doctor of Commercial Science degree, honoris causa, on Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi:
Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi-chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, you lead one of the worlds largest convenient food and beverage companies with annual revenues of nearly $35 billion, operating in nearly 200 countries, and employing more than 168,000 people worldwide. Named president and CEO in October 2006, and chairman seven months later, you had already served PepsiCo in senior management positions for over a decade, directing your companys global strategy with intelligence and energy, discipline, and vision. You have promoted the concept of performance with purpose, leading to growth in revenues, responsible environmental initiatives, and a diverse and inclusive company filled with world-class talent. You have been named one of the most powerful women in business by Fortune magazine and by Time as among the 100 Most Influential People in the World. You have described the job you love as an obsession yet are known to sing around the corporate offices and insist that as one works hard, one should also have fun. A wise counselor and exemplary citizen, you serve on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the International Rescue Committee, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Moreover, in recognition of this day and its historic significance, we proudly salute you as a wild fan of the New York Yankees!
Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi-extraordinary executive and brilliant strategist, you rank among the worlds most accomplished women. By virtue of the authority vested in me by New York University, I am pleased to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Commercial Science, honoris causa.