ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced Helene D. Gayle, M.D., M.P.H., has been nominated to stand for election to the Company’s Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting of Shareowners in April. Dr. Gayle, 57, is President and CEO of CARE USA, a leading international humanitarian organization whose poverty fighting programs reached approximately 122 million people last year in 84 countries.
An expert on health, global development and humanitarian issues, Dr. Gayle spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS and has worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues.
Dr. Gayle is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Public Health Association, the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She currently serves on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships and the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Affairs Policy Board.
“Helene brings a global mindset and a deep understanding of health and humanitarian issues to our Company,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. “Her expertise and insight will be invaluable as we continue to expand our global initiatives around sustainability and women.”
Named one of Forbes' "100 Most Powerful Women," and Foreign Policy magazine's "Top 100 Global Thinkers," Dr. Gayle earned a B.A. in psychology at Barnard College, an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University.
Once elected to the Board, Dr. Gayle is expected to serve on the Compensation Committee and will become the Board’s 16th member following the Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
Yesterday, the Company announced legendary businessmen Donald R. Keough and James B. Williams will not stand for re-election to the Board at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareowners in April. The leaders retire after decades of distinguished service to The Coca-Cola Company.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.