ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Coca-Cola Co. (KO) announced a new streamlined international structure to better align its operating units against its global bottling footprint and to promote and develop key Coca-Cola leaders. International operating structure and leadership changes will be effective August 1.
The company will form a Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Group, consisting of the business units that currently make up the Europe and the Eurasia and Africa Groups.
In Europe, the Central and Southern Europe and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus business units will be combined into a new business unit - Central and Eastern Europe - to better support the bottling footprint in that region.
In Africa, two business units will be reconfigured to more closely align operations with bottling operations on the continent, with the formation of a new South and East Africa business unit and a West Africa business unit.
Brian Smith, currently president of the company's Latin America Group, will become President, EMEA Group, reporting to Quincey. Smith is a 19-year Coca-Cola 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.
As the new EMEA Group is created, Nathan Kalumbu, currently President, Eurasia and Africa Group, will focus on key initiatives across the Africa business, including the Africa bottler consolidation, as well as serve on a number of boards, until he retires from the company effective December 31, 2016.
Alfredo Rivera, currently President of the Latin Center Business Unit, will become President, Latin America Group, reporting to Quincey.
John Murphy, currently President of the South Latin Business Unit, will become President, Asia Pacific Group, reporting to Quincey. Murphy has 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.
Atul Singh, currently President of the Asia Pacific Group, will transition to the role of Chairman, Asia Pacific Group. Singh will continue to focus on managing a number of key stakeholders, government relations, key merger and acquisition initiatives, as well as continuing to serve on a number of boards, until March 2017 when he will retire from the company.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX