The Coca-Cola Co. announced on Tuesday, May 24, key leaders for its international operations which are facing the challenges of a strong dollar and weak growth globally. The changes have made in connection to bottler realignments affecting Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Brian Smith, currently president of the company’s Latin America Group, is to become president of a newly formed EMEA Group, composed of business units that currently make up the Europe and the Eurasia and Africa Groups. He has served previously as a division president of Brazil and business unit president for Mexico.
John Murphy, current president of the South Latin Business Unit, will become president of the Asia Pacific Group. He has held senior company and bottling roles in many markets including Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and North America, in addition to positions in Latin America.
Atul Singh, current president of the Asia Pacific Group is to remain in his role as chairman, Asia Pacific Group until March 2017 when he is to retire.
Alfredo Rivera, currently president of the Latin Center Business Unit, is to become president, Latin America Group, has held both company and bottler leadership positions throughout his career in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil and Ecuador. While president of the Latin Center Business Unit, his team has qualified for the company’s top internal business unit award, The Woodruff Cup, for the last three years..
Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO, said in a statement that the personnel announcements reflect a new international operating structure “That better support our evolving bottler footprint…”
The new organization plan calls for the creation of a new Central and Eastern Europe business unit consolidating the Central and Southern Europe and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus business units.
In Africa, a new South and East Africa, and a new West Africa business unit are to be created “to better support the bottling footprint in the region.”
Mr. Smith’s leadership team at the EMEA Group is to include Dan Sayre, who is to continue as president, Western Europe; Nikos Koumettis, is to expand his existing role to become president, Central and Eastern Europe; Kelvin Balogun, currently president Central, East and West Africa (CEWA), is to become president, South and East Africa; Zoran Vucinic, currently president, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, is to become president, Middle East and North Africa; Galya Molinas, is to continue in her role as president, Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia; and Peter Njonjo, currently general manager of the East Africa Franchise in CEWA, is to become president of the new West Africa Business Unit.
Mr. Murphy’s leadership team is to include: Curt Ferguson, currently president, Middle East and North Africa, who will become president, Greater China and Korea effective Sept. 1; Iain McLaughlin, is to continue as president, ASEAN; Tim Brett, is to continue as president, Japan; Roberto Mercade; is to continue as president, South Pacific; and Venkatesh Kini, is to continue as president, India and Southwest Asia.
Mr. Rivera’s leadership team is to include Francisco Crespo, who is to continue as president, Mexico; Henrique Braun, currently president, Greater China
and Korea, is to become president, Brazil, effective Sept. 1; Therese Gearhart, currently president, Southern Africa, is to succeed Mr. Rivera as president, Latin Center; Joao Marcelo Ramires, currently vice president – Franchise Operations, Brazil, is to become president, South Latin; and Xiemar Zarazua, currently president, Brazil, is to become vice president, Strategic Ventures for Latin America, effective Sept. 1.
The company’s bottling investments and North America groups are not affected by these announcements, which will take place on Aug. 1 unless noted otherwise.
To learn more about the careers of the group leaders, click here.
