Jack Pelo, CEO of Swire Coca-Cola USA, Presented Lifetime Achievement Award by Utah Business Magazine

Jack Pelo, President & CEO Swire Coca-Cola, USA (Photo: Business Wire)

DRAPER, Utah--()--Swire Coca-Cola, USA announced today that long-term President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Pelo has been honored by Utah Business Magazine with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented during the magazine’s annual CEO of the Year Awards luncheon in Salt Lake City.

According to Utah Business Magazine, the CEO of the Year Awards honors executives who, “Exude innovation, show sound business judgment and have seen proven financial success. Whether in the private, public, government or nonprofit sector, these individuals have proven to be successful leaders within their companies and their communities.”

Pelo became President/CEO of Swire Coca-Cola in 1996 and over the last 20 years he has shaped the company’s culture of excellence, while leading it to unprecedented growth. Pelo is instrumental in developing the vision and strategy for the company’s ongoing growth in size and revenue. From 2014 to the end of 2017, the company will triple the number of its employees to over 6,000, and essentially quadruple the size of the company in terms of sales volume and population served.

Pelo has been the key negotiator as the company expanded territory through acquisitions from The Coca-Cola Company. He also sets the tone and tenor for the company’s integration of 4,000 new employees into a very tight-knit company culture.

Pelo literally grew up in the Coca-Cola System. His father owned and operated a bottling franchise in Walla Walla, Wash., and as soon as he was old enough, Pelo spent his summers in the warehouse, on the bottling line, and running special events. He built pallets and moved cases. He learned the business from the inside by working almost every job in the bottling and distribution operation.

“There are two things I really like about the beverage business. First of all, is the variety. We deal with all types of customers. You might be dealing with a university one day or a major retail outlet the next day,” said Pelo. “The other thing is the people I get to work with - our associates, our customers and our business partners. This is a people business and that is what I like.”

Pelo’s leadership also extends to transformation of the nation’s beverage industry. Susan Neely, CEO of the American Beverage Association, acknowledges Pelo's contributions, "As chairman of the American Beverage Association, Jack Pelo oversaw the implementation of a ground breaking initiative to reduce calories from beverages sold in the nation's schools. Leading by example, Jack inspired competitors and fellow Coke bottlers to deliver on the pledge to transform the beverage landscape in schools. The result was an astonishing 90 percent fewer calories from beverages shipped to schools."

“I am humbled and honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award from Utah Business,” said Pelo. “I am proud to lead a great company, filled with terrific people who make and sell the world’s most refreshing beverages. To be recognized for all we have accomplished together is very rewarding.”

Pelo is a proud and active alumnus of Washington State University. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco, and on the board of directors for Swire Cold Storage, Key Technology, Inc. and Western Container Corporation.

About Swire Coca-Cola, USA

At Swire Coca-Cola, USA we proudly create the magical feelings, special times and great taste of America's favorite sparkling, water, juice, tea, sport and energy drinks. Our commitment to excellence guides our actions with our employees, customers and communities. Swire Coca-Cola, USA produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola and other beverages, including more than 300 brands across 13 states. The company’s territory includes parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. With over 6,000 employees and headquarters in Draper, Utah, Swire Coca-Cola, USA is a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Limited (HKSE: 00019/00087) (www.swirepacific.com) as part of its beverages division. For more information, visit us at: www.swirecc.com.

Contacts

Swire Coca-Cola, USA
Scarlett Foster-Moss, 385-248-7093 or 801-816-5714

Contacts

Swire Coca-Cola, USA
Scarlett Foster-Moss, 385-248-7093 or 801-816-5714