ATLANTA -- The Coca-Cola Co. made several key changes to its top leadership this past week, including the election of a new president and chief operating officer and a succession plan for the chief financial officer.
The board of directors on Oct. 18 elected Brian Smith to serve as president and COO, effective Jan. 1, 2019. He will report to James Quincey, the company’s CEO. Smith is a 21-year Coca-Cola veteran who is currently president of the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) group.
The appointment of a president and COO will allow Quincey, who has been CEO since May 2017 and is a member of the board of directors, to focus on the overall long-term strategic direction and success of the company. Smith is well-equipped to lead the company’s field operations and bring an accelerated focus on executing against key strategies, the company said, due to his deep knowledge of the global Coca-Cola system, strong relationships with bottlers and customers and a proven track record of leadership.
“I have tremendous respect for Brian, who is a valued business partner,” Quincey said. “He is the ideal person to steer the in-market executional leadership of the company, which will allow me to focus on the strategic direction of Coca-Cola as we continue to evolve as a total beverage company.”
John Murphy, who is currently president of the company’s Asia Pacific group, will become senior vice president and deputy CFO on Jan. 1. He will be elevated to executive vice president and CFO on March 16, following the retirement of Kathy Waller.
Waller is currently executive vice president, CFO and president of Enabling Services. She will depart the company after 32 years at Coca-Cola.
The Atlanta-based company also announced that Nancy Quan has been elected senior vice president and appointed chief technical officer, effective Jan. 1, reporting to Quincey. She is currently vice president of the company and chief technical officer of Coca-Cola North America.
Quan succeeds Ed Hays, who will retire from the company on March 31. Hays will transition to a role as senior adviser on Jan. 1, reporting to Quincey.
Finally, Barry Simpson, who is senior vice president and chief information officer, is adding new duties that include oversight of portions of the company’s Enabling Services organization. These functions currently report to Waller. Simpson, who will have the new title of senior vice president and chief information and integrated services officer, will begin his expanded duties Jan. 1.
Photograph: Shutterstock
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