Christopher A. Sinclair
Christopher A. Sinclair | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1950 Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Known for | Chairman of Reckitt, former CEO of Mattel and PepsiCo |
Christopher A. Sinclair (born September 5, 1950) is a prominent American executive, currently serving as chairman of Reckitt. He previously held the roles of chairman and CEO at both Mattel and PepsiCo.
Background
Sinclair was born in Hong Kong and spent part of his upbringing in Mumbai, India. His education included time at Kodaikanal International School and Vermont Academy. His father led Esso Oil's international division as president. Sinclair earned his B.A. in marketing summa cum laude from the University of Kansas and completed an MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1973.
Business career
Beginning his professional journey with General Foods and Newsweek, Sinclair dedicated over 15 years to PepsiCo. In 1989, he was appointed president of Pepsi-Cola International, progressing to CEO of PepsiCo Foods and Beverages International by 1993, and eventually becoming chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. He was instrumental in Pepsi’s expansion into the Indian market and played a key role in bringing on former CEO Indra Nooyi. Sinclair established challenging growth goals, achieving over $5 billion in international cola sales by 1995 before stepping down in 1996.
Following his tenure at PepsiCo, Sinclair took on the CEO position at Quality Food Centers (QFC), a supermarket chain on the U.S. West Coast supported by billionaire Samuel Zell. Under his guidance, QFC experienced significant growth and was acquired by Fred Meyer for $1.7 billion in 1998; Fred Meyer has since become part of Kroger.
Sinclair also managed the financial turnaround of Caribiner International (currently known as Jack Morton Worldwide) as its chairman and CEO. His career includes roles as partner at Pegasus Capital Advisors and operating partner at Morgan Joseph TriArtisan merchant banking firm. As executive chairman and CEO of Cambridge Solutions Ltd—ranked as the world’s second-largest BPO/IT company—he oversaw its acquisition by Xchanging, which was backed by General Atlantic, in 2008.
From January 2015 to May 2018, Sinclair served as chairman of Mattel, also fulfilling CEO duties from January 2015 until February 2017. He joined Reckitt’s board as a director in February 2015 and assumed the position of non-executive chairman in May 2018.
His board memberships have included companies such as Foot Locker, FW Woolworth Company, Merisant, PepsiCo, and Perdue Farms. Additionally, Sinclair has contributed as a trustee at both Brunswick School and Vermont Academy, along with serving on the board of overseers for the Tuck School of Business.
Personal
Christopher Sinclair resides with his wife Margaret in both Greenwich, Connecticut and Palm Beach, Florida. Margaret is noted for her past role as president of the Breast Cancer Alliance.