ATLANTA -- The Coca-Cola Co. recently made a number of leadership appointments to support the company's new global operating structure. The changes complete the senior leadership roster in support of the previous announcement that Ahmet Bozer, Steve Cahillane and Irial Finan will lead the company's three operating businesses--Coca-Cola International, Coca-Cola Americas and Bottling Investments Group (BIG), respectively. The changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2013.
The new structure will consolidate leadership of global operations under the Bottling Investments Group and two large, but similar sized geographic regions to streamline reporting lines, intensify focus on key markets and create a structure that leverages synergies and provides flexibility to adjust the business within these geographies in the future.
With the changes, Coca-Cola's three operating businesses reporting to chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent will be structured as follows:
Coca-Cola Americas will include the company's North America and Latin America Groups, reporting to Cahillane.
The company will complete the formation of a unified North America structure designed to leverage brand marketing capabilities with supply chain and customer service capabilities. The new structure will fully position the company's U.S. and Canada business to operate as an aligned and "agile" unit to best serve bottlers, customers and consumers in its flagship market.
J. Alexander "Sandy" Douglas Jr., currently president of Coca-Cola North America, will be appointed global chief customer officer, reporting to Kent. Douglas will leverage his customer relationships around the world to ensure Coca-Cola is known globally as an organization that delivers world-class value and service to its customers. He will also continue to lead the North America franchise strategy.
Katie Bayne, currently president of North America Sparkling Beverages, will become president of North America Brands. She will be responsible for strategic marketing, sparkling beverages, glaceeau, Minute Maid juices, coffee, tea and water, diversity business development and Latin Affairs in the United States. The Canada Business Unit, led by Nicola Kettlitz, will also report to Bayne.
Brian Kelley, currently chief product supply officer for Coca-Cola Refreshments, will be appointed president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola Refreshments, where he will have responsibility for all foodservice, regional sales, product supply, customer care, customer retail and commercial operations in the United States.
Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada, led by John Guarino, will also report to Kelley.
Click here to read the full list of appointments. And click here for biographies.
Atlanta-based Coca-Cola is the world's largest beverage company. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, its portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, it is a leading provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees and juices and juice drinks.
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