Suntory Beverage & Food Europe (SBFE), a regional division of Suntory, one of the world’s leading beverage companies, today announces the appointment of Pauline Varga as chief marketing officer, effective 1 April 2026.
Varga joins the SBFE Executive Committee and will lead the company’s Marketing agenda, supporting brand growth, innovation and consumer‑centric strategies across SBFE’s diverse portfolio of iconic brands.
Varga joined Suntory in 2018 as marketing director for France, spearheading the growth of its heritage brands and revitalising the Oasis brand through consumer driven insights. Over the past eight years at Suntory, she has held several senior marketing leadership roles across Europe & Oversees/International, working on iconic brands including Schweppes, across Suntory-owned territories, and Orangina, as well as driving the launch of new brands in new categories like Suntory -196 in the UK & Ireland
Prior to joining Suntory, Varga spent more than 15 years at Danone, holding local, regional and global roles across markets including France, Canada, Spain, and the US, and working on leading brands such as Activia, Danone and Danette.
Her experience spans business, brand strategy, innovation and transformation, and she is widely recognised for her collaborative leadership style, strong consumer focus and ability to build and engage high-performing teams to deliver sustainable growth. Pauline is passionate about Seikatsusha – putting people and their lives at the heart of everything we do – ensuring our brands and innovations are rooted in real consumer needs and aspirations.
Varga is married, has two sons, and enjoys travelling and discovering new cultures.
Commenting on her appointment, Varga said: “I’m delighted to take on this role at a time when marketing has such an important role to play in shaping innovation and relevance. Suntory Beverage & Food Europe has a strong portfolio of iconic brands and talented teams, and I’m excited to work together to keep building brands that people genuinely love — by staying close to consumers, encouraging creativity and embracing the Seikatsusha mindset of putting people and their lives at the heart of everything we do.”
Commenting on the appointment, Pierre Decroix, CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, said: “Pauline’s appointment reflects our ambition to continue strengthening our brands and accelerating consumer‑led growth across the 60 markets where we sell our brands. Her deep marketing expertise, international experience and strong leadership will be key as we sharpen our focus on innovation and continue delivering great‑tasting drinks that people enjoy and love.”
