The Coca-Cola Company Announces Leaders for New Operating Units and Beverage Categories

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced appointments for a number of senior roles leading the company’s new operating units and beverage category teams. The selections are part of the company’s broader reorganization, as first announced Aug. 28.

The company’s nine new operating units and five global category teams will be supported by the newly created Platform Services organization.

Operating units

The company’s nine operating units will replace current groups and business units, effective Jan. 1, 2021, subject to consultation where required under local laws. These changes will help eliminate duplication of resources and enhance the company’s ability to scale new products more quickly.

The operating units and their geographies and presidents are:

• North America: Alfredo Rivera, former president of the Latin America group. Rivera’s appointment was announced Aug. 24, and he has already started his new role.
• Latin America: Henrique Braun, current president of the Brazil business unit. Braun’s appointment was announced Sept. 1.
• Europe: Nikos Koumettis, current president of the Europe, Middle East & Africa group. Koumettis’ appointment was announced Sept. 1.
• Africa: Bruno Pietracci, current president of the Africa & Middle East business unit.
• Eurasia and 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.

The company also announced the following appointments of operational leaders within its three largest operating units:

• Latin America:
  • Roberto Mercade will become president of operations, North; he currently serves as president of the Latin Center business unit.
  • Luisa Ortega will become president of operations, Central; she currently serves as president of the South Latin business unit.
  • The president of operations, South will be announced later.
• Europe:
  • Lana Popovic will become president of operations, Western Europe; she currently serves as president of the Central and Eastern Europe business unit.
  • Alanna Cotton will become president of operations, Central and Eastern Europe; she currently serves as chief marketing officer for stills beverages.
• North America:
  • Zoran Vučinić will become chief operating officer; he currently serves as chief operating officer, U.S.A. Bottler Delivered Brands, Coca-Cola North America.
  • Kathleen Ciaramello will become chief customer officer; she currently serves as 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 Inc. He will be responsible for building and strengthening critical local partnerships in India, supporting the new operating unit leadership team.

Global category leads

Building a winning, focused, growth portfolio is a top priority for the company. This requires innovation, marketing efficiency and effectiveness. The company, which is reinforcing and deepening its leadership in five global categories, named the following presidents today:

• 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 organization to build the company’s brand portfolio and win in the marketplace. 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.

Platform Services

The company previously announced the creation of Platform Services, an organization that will work in service of operating units, categories and functions to create efficiencies and deliver capabilities at scale across the globe. More information about leaders for Platform Services will be announced later.

More information

To learn more about how the company is reorganizing for future growth, see our recent media releases:

• Organizational announcement: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-releases/announcement-to-reorganize-for-future-growth
• Top leadership announcements: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-releases/key-leadership-appointments-september-2020 and https://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-releases/alfredo-rivera-named-president-coca-cola-north-america

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brand, our portfolio includes AdeS, Ayataka, Costa, Dasani, Del Valle, Fanta, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest, innocent, Minute Maid, Powerade, Simply, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.