- Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) recently announced several major leadership changes. These are some of the changes that were revealed.
Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) recently announced several major leadership changes. Henrique Braun will now be President of the Latin America Operating Unit and Nikos Koumettis to be President of Europe Operating Unit. And Nancy Quan will lead a combined innovation and technical function, following the retirement of Chief Innovation Officer Robert Long. Melanie Boulden has also been hired as senior VP marketing for North America.
This announcement came on the heels of the company unveiling a reorganization that focuses on 3 pillars: operations, beverage categories and the services that enable them around the world.
Latin America Operating Unit
Braun — who currently serves as president of the Brazil business unit — will become president of the new Latin America operating unit. And before being named president of the Brazil business unit, Braun served as president of Greater China & Korea. He had joined the company in 1996 in Atlanta and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility in North America, Europe, and Latin America. Those positions included supply chain, new business development, marketing, innovation, general management and bottling operations.
Braun holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University Federal of Rio de Janeiro, a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Michigan State University, and an MBA from Georgia State University.
Europe Operating Unit
Nikos Koumettis, current president of the Europe, Middle East & Africa group, will become president of the new Europe operating unit. And prior to his current role, Koumettis served as president of the company’s Central and Eastern Europe business unit where he was responsible for overseeing company operations in 26 countries. Koumettis also worked as president of the Central and Southern Europe business unit. He joined Coca-Cola in 2001.
Koumettis has a bachelor of science in business administration from the American College of Greece and a master of science degree in international marketing from Strathclyde Business School.
North America And Other Operating Units
Coca-Cola previously announced that Alfredo Rivera has become president of the North America unit. Rivera has most recently served as president of the Latin America group.
And the company will announce the complete list of operating unit geographies and their leaders later this week.
Innovation And Technical Functions
The company recently announced that Chief Innovation Officer Robert Long plans to retire Feb. 28, 2021, after a 17-year career with the company. Long has held a number of different roles and most recently has led work to accelerate the growth of the company’s consumer-centric brand portfolio through innovations in beverages, packaging, ingredients and other areas.
And 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 & Innovation Officer.
Quan had joined the company in 2007 and currently oversees the company’s Technical and Supply Chain community; Strategic Ingredient Procurement; Flavor Supply and Manufacturing; Commercial Products Supply; Strategic Supply Chain; Quality, Safety, and Environment; Scientific and Regulatory Affairs; Technical Data Intelligence; and Technical Knowledge and Skills.
Quan is a graduate of Purdue University.
Melanie Boulden
Boulden joined Coca-Cola a year ago and now she is the senior VP of marketing for North America. Boulden is a former Reebok and Crayola marketing executive.
Over the last year, Boulden led the company’s stills business, including water, tea, and coffee.
Boulden will be keeping the role in the stills unit for the company, but will also add responsibilities around the company’s carbonated beverages.
Boulden’s appointment is happening 4 months after the departure of Geoff Cottrill — who had worked as the company’s senior VP of strategic marketing in North America since 2018 according to AdAge.
