ATLANTA -- The Coca-Cola Co. has named Muhtar as president and COO, effective immediately. In his new capacity, Kent is responsible for all of the company's operating units worldwide. He continues reporting to chairman and CEO Neville Isdell.
For most of his 28 years in our system, I have worked closely with Muhtar, said Isdell. He is an excellent and focused leader and I look forward to working, and winning, with him as we take The Coca-Cola Co. to a future of sustained growth.
Isdell noted Kent's significant success driving [image-nocss] the company's international operations through 2006. At the end of the third quarter, 95% of the company's 2006 unit case volume growth has come from its international markets.
Since his return to our company, his ability to realize growth across the entire non-alcoholic beverage sector in our key international markets has been central to our success. Additionally, Muhtar's close working relationship with our bottling partners has enabled us to capture marketplace opportunities and improve the way we do business, Isdell said.
All of the company's operating group presidentsAlex Cummings (Africa), J. A. M. Sandy Douglas (North America), Glenn Jordan (East, South Asia and Pacific Rim), Dominique Reiniche (European Union) and Jose Octavio Reyes (Latin America)will report to Kent. In addition, Irial Finan, president of the company's Bottling Investments Group and Jerry Wilson, senior vice president in charge of the company's McDonald's Division, will report to Kent.
The company's global function headsMary Minnick (Marketing, Strategy and Innovation), Gary Fayard (Finance), Geoff Kelly (Legal), Tom Mattia (Public Affairs and Communications) and Cynthia McCague (Human Resources), along with Ingrid Saunders Jones (External Affairs) and Leslie Novos, CEO of Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW)will continue reporting to Isdell.
Our full executive leadership team is focused on driving financial and reputational growth for the company. Without doubt, Muhtar is a man of the highest integrity and deepest skills, said Isdell. He will put his skills to work accelerating the on-the-ground execution of our key value-building priorities in each of the more than 200 countries where we do business.
Kent returned to Coca-Cola in May 2005 as president and COO of the North Asia, Eurasia and Middle East Group and was named president of Coca-Cola International in January 2006. He joined Coca- Cola in 1978 and has held a variety of marketing and operational roles through his career.
In 1985, he was appointed general manager of Coca-Cola Turkey and Central Asia. From 1989 to 1995, Kent was president of the East Central Europe Division and senior vice president of Coca-Cola International, overseeing 23 countries. From 1995 to 1998, Kent was managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil - Europe, with bottling operations in 12 countries. From 1999 until his return to Coca-Cola, he was president and CEO of Efes Beverage Group, one of Europe's largest international beverage businesses, and the majority shareholder of Turkish bottler Coca-Cola Icecek.
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