Before joining PepsiCo he worked at Chupa Chups, a candy company based in Spain known for its lollipops.[9] Laguarta joined PepsiCo in January 1996.[10] His first role was in the company’s European business, and in 2014 became the CEO of the entire Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) sector.[11] While working in Europe, Laguarta helped lead the acquisition in 2010 of Russian dairy and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann, a deal valued at $5.4 billion, the company's second largest acquisition after its purchase of Quaker Oats in 2001.[12]