The Coca-Cola Company announces leadership changes
Three key executive appointments follow the company’s announcement that it is reorganising and downsizing
The Coca-Cola Company has announced three key leadership appointments following last week’s announcement that the company is undergoing significant reorganisation and downsizing.
Henrique Braun, who is currently president of the Brazil business unit, will become president of the new Latin America operating unit. Braun was previously president of Greater China and Korea.
Braun joined the company in 1996 in Atlanta – where Coca-Cola is headquartered – and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility in North America, Europe and Latin America involving supply chain, new business development, marketing, innovation, general management and bottling operations.
Nikos Koumettis, who joined Coca-Cola in 2001, is currently president of the Europe, Middle East and Africa group and will become president of the new Europe operating unit.
Koumettis was previously president of the company’s Central and Eastern Europe business unit, responsible for overseeing company operations in 26 countries. Koumettis was also president of the Central and Southern Europe business unit.
The company previously announced that Alfredo Rivera has become president of the North America unit. Rivera was most recently president of the Latin America group.
It also announced that chief innovation officer, Robert Long, will retire at the end of February next year after a 17-year career with the company. Long has held a number of different roles and most recently led work to accelerate the growth of the company’s brand portfolio through innovations in beverages, packaging, ingredients and other areas.
After Long’s retirement, the company will combine its innovation and technical functions under the leadership of Nancy Quan, who will now become the chief technical and innovation officer. Quan joined the company in 2007 and currently oversees its technical and supply chain community.
Leaders of Coca-Cola operating units
Coca-Cola also announced the leaders of all its operating units and their geographies and presidents. They are:
Africa: Bruno Pietracci, current president of the Africa & Middle East business unit.
Eurasia and the Middle East: Evguenia Stoichkova, current president of the Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia business unit.
Japan and South Korea: Jorge Garduno, current president of the Japan business unit.
Greater China: Vamsi Mohan Thati, current president of the South Pacific business unit.
ASEAN and South Pacific: Claudia Lorenzo, current president of the ASEAN business unit.
India and Southwest Asia: Sanket Ray, current chief operating officer for Mainland China.
In addition to the geographical operating units, Jennifer Mann will continue to serve as president of Global Ventures, and Marcelo Boffi will continue to serve as president of Bottling Investments.
As previously announced, the operational side of the business will sit under four geographical segments, along with Global Ventures and Bottling Investments. All operating leaders will report to president and chief operating officer Brian Smith.
More leadership changes
The company also announced the following appointments of operational leaders within its three largest operating units:
In Latin America, Roberto Mercade will become president of operations, North; he is currently president of the Latin Center business unit.
Luisa Ortega will become president of operations, Central; she is currently president of the South Latin business unit.
The president of operations, South will be announced later.
In Europe, Lana Popovic will become president of operations, Western Europe; she is currently president of the Central and Eastern Europe business unit.
Alanna Cotton will become president of operations, Central and Eastern Europe; she is currently chief marketing officer for stills beverages.
In North America, Zoran Vučinić will become chief operating officer; he is chief operating officer, USA Bottler Delivered Brands, Coca-Cola North America.
Kathleen Ciaramello will become chief customer officer; she is currently president, Foodservice and On-Premise, Coca-Cola North America.
T. Krishnakumar, current president of the India and Southwest Asia business unit, will be chairman of Coca-Cola India. He will be responsible for building local partnerships in India, supporting the new operating unit leadership team.
Global category leaders
The global category leads are as follows:
Coca-Cola category: Selman Careaga, current president of the sparkling business unit for Coca-Cola North America.
Sparkling Flavors category: Jasmin Vinculado, current sparkling general manager for the Mexico business unit.
Hydration, Sports, Coffee and Tea category: Matrona Filippou, current president of the Southern and East Africa business unit.
Nutrition, Juice, Dairy and Plant category: Sedef Salingan Sahin, current vice-president of operations for the Europe, Middle East & Africa group.
Emerging categories: leadership appointment will be announced later.
The leaders of these categories will work across the networked organisation to build the company’s brand portfolio. Global category leads will report to chief marketing officer Manolo Arroyo.
In addition, the company announced senior vice-presidents of marketing for the largest operating units:
Latin America: Javier Meza, current chief marketing officer for sparkling beverages.
Europe: Walter Susini, current head of marketing for the Western Europe business unit.
North America: Melanie Boulden, current president of the stills business unit for Coca-Cola North America.