The Coca-Cola Co Streamlines Global Structure To Align Its Operating Units

The Coca-Cola Company

revealed Tuesday a fresh streamlined international structure to align its operating units better against its global bottling footprint, as well as, to promote and develop key leaders of the company. As a result, Brian Smith, its current president of Latin America Group, would become President, EMEA Group, reporting to Quincey. Smith is a 19-year veteran who has a proven track record of driving business results, developing and exporting talent and providing strong franchise leadership across Latin America, including past roles as Division President of Brazil and Business Unit President for Mexico. For Latin America Group, Alfredo Rivera, its President of the Latin Center Business Unit, would assume the role of President, Latin America Group, reporting to Quincey. Rivera is also a 19-year veteran who has held both company and bottler leadership positions throughout his career in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil and Ecuador. As far as Asia Pacific Group is concerned, the company named John Murphy, its existing President of the South Latin Business Unit, to become President, Asia Pacific Group, reporting to Quincey. He held senior company and bottling roles in a number of markets during his 28-year career, including Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and North America, in addition to roles in Latin America. Commenting on the developments, the Coca-Cola chairman and CEO, Muhtar Kent, said, "Today's announcement outlines important changes to our international operating structure that better support our evolving bottler footprint and demonstrate the deep bench of management experience we are fortunate to have in the Coca-Cola system. These moves will continue to lay the foundation for strong leadership and management continuity." Similarly, the company's President and COO, James Quincey, added: "As we continue to implement our five strategic actions for growth, it is critical that our organizational structure enables the speed, agility and inspirational leadership that are necessary to win today and in the future. The changes we are announcing today streamline our international structure, and reflect strong talent succession and a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders at our company." The stock traded 0.15 percent down in the pre-market trading on Tuesday.