Coca Cola

Background

The Coca Cola Company was founded in 1886 by pharmacist John Styth Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The Coca-Cola Company advertisies itself as 'the world's leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce nearly 400 brands. The Coca-Cola Company continues to be based in Atlanta and employs 49,000 people worldwide, with operations in over 200 countries'.

People

Board of Directors

In January 2008, the Coca Cola Company report their Board of Directors as comprising...

• E Neville Isdell - Isdell is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Coca Cola. He joined Coca Cola in 1966 undertaking a variety of leadership positions throughout the world before taking up his present roles in 2004. In his biography, Isdell is also reported to be...

'chairman of the U.S.-Russia Business Council and chairman of the board of trustees of the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF). He is a member of the board of trustees of the United States Council for International Business and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS. Isdell serves on the board of directors of SunTrust Banks Inc. and the Commerce Club and as a trustee of Emory University. He is a lifetime trustee of Pace Academy'.

• Herbert A Allen - Director since 1984. Allen's biography describes how he is also President, CEO and a Director of Allen and Company Inc and a director of Convera Corporation.

• Ronald W Allen - Director since 1991. Allen's biography reports that he also serves as Consultant and Advisory Director for Delta Air Lines Inc., were he was formerly Chairman of the Board, President and CEO between 1987 to 1997). Allen is also a Director of Aaron Rents Inc.

• Cathleen P Black - Director since 1993. Black's biography describes how she is also President of Hearst Magazines (a unit of The Hearst Corporation, a major media and communications company) since 1995 and a director of International Business Machines Corporation and iVillage.com. Black previously served as President and CEO (1991 to 1995) and Director (1990, 1991 & 1993) for the Newspaper Association of America.

• Barry Diller - Director since 2002. Diller's biography describes how he is Chairman of the Board and CEO for InterActiveCorp (IAC) since 1995, and a Director for The Washington Post Company. He previously served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of QVC Inc. (1992 to 1994) and as the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Fox Inc. (1984 to 1992). Prior to joining Fox, Diller served ten years as Chairman of the Board and CEO for Paramount Pictures Corporation.

• Alexis M Herman - Director since 2007, former Chairwoman of Coca-Cola's Human Resources Task Force. Herman's biography reports that she is also Chair and CEO of New Ventures LLC, Chair of the Toyota Diversity Advisory Board and the Sodexho Business Advisory Board, and on the Board of Directors for Cummins Inc., Entergy Inc. and MGM Mirage. Herman's biography also describes how she previously 'served as America's 23rd Secretary of Labor and the first African American ever to lead the United States Department of Labor'.

• Donald R Keough - Director since 2004. Keough's biography reports that he is also Chairman of the Board of Allen and Company Inc. (previously he was CEO & Director), Director of IAC/InterActiveCorp, Convera Corporation and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

• Donald F McHenry - Director since 1981. McHenry's biography states that he is also Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy and International Affairs at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, a principal owner and president of The IRC Group LLC, and a Director of AT&T Corporation and International Paper Company.

• Sam Nunn - Director since 1997. Nunn's biography reports that he is Co-Chairman and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (since 2001), a Director of ChevronTexaco Corporation, Dell Inc., General Electric Company, Internet Security Systems Inc. and Scientific-Atlanta Inc. Nunn's previous involvements include serving as partner in the law firm of King and Spalding (1997 to 2003) and serving as a member of the United States Senate (1972 to 1996).

• James D Robinson III - Director since 1975. Robinson's biography describes him as a general partner and co-founder of RRE Ventures, president of J D Robinson Inc. (a strategic consulting firm) and non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors for Bristol-Myers Squibb (since 1976). He also serves on the Boards of Directors of Novell Inc., Visiprise and PrimeRevenue. Robinson is a member of the Business Council and the Council on Foreign Relations, an honorary trustee of the Brookings Institution and honorary chairman of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Robinson was previously Chairman and CEO of American Express Company (1977 to 1993), Co-Chairman of the Business Roundtable and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN).

• Peter V Ueberroth - Director since 1986. Ueberroth's biography reports that he is an investor and Chairman of the Contrarian Group Inc. (since 1989), Co-Chairman of Pebble Beach Company, Chairman of Ambassadors International Inc. and a director of Hilton Hotels Corporation and Adecco S.A.

• Jacob Wallenberg - Director since January 2008. Wallenberg's biography Coca Cola Company describes him as serving as Chairman of the Board for Investor AB, Vice-Chairman of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (SEB), Atlas Copco AB, SAS AB and a board member of ABB Ltd, The Nobel Foundation, The Stockholm School of Economics and The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

• James B Williams - Director since 1979. William's biography reported that he is also a Director for Genuine Parts Company, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Marine Products Corporation, Rollins Inc. and RPC Inc. Williams previously served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of SunTrust Banks Inc. (for 5 years up to 1998).

Senior Leadership Team

In January 2008, Coca Cola's Senior Leadership Team are listed as...

• Muhtar Kent - President & CEO (he will succeed Neville Isdell as CEO on July 1st 2008) with responsibility for oversing all operations of the business, including Bottling Investments. Kent's biography reports that he joined the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978 and has held a variety of marketing and operations roles throughout his time with the company. From 1999 until his return to The Coca-Cola Company in May 2005, Kent served as President and CEO of the Efes Beverage Group (Efes is a publicly traded beverage enterprise whose Coca-Cola and beer operations extend from the Adriatic to the Pacific Ocean. They are also the majority shareholder of Turkish bottler Coca-Cola Icecek.

• Ahmet C Bozer - President and CEO of the Eurasia Group. Bozer's biography reports that he has been with Coca Cola since 1990 and served as Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottlers of Turkey (CCBT) before taking on his current role. Bozer's previous involvements include five years with Coopers & Lybrand in various audit, consultancy and management roles.

• Alexander B Cummings - President and CEO, Africa Group (since 2000). Cummings joined Coca Cola in 1997 and his biography reports that he is also chairman of The Coca Cola Africa Foundation, is on the Boards of the African-America Institute, Africare and Clarke Atlanta University and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. Cummings previous involvements include undertaking several positions (including Vice President) with The Pillsbury Company in the U.S. He also served on the Advisory Board of The African Presidential Archives and Research Center and The Corporate Council on Africa. Cummings has also previously served on the Advisory Board of The Center for Global Development's Commission on U.S. Policy toward Low-Income Poorly Performing States (LIPPS), an 'independent' think tank that advertises itself as being concerned with global poverty and inequality and (through active engagement with the policy community) the encouragement of policy change.

• J Alexander M Douglas Jr. - President and CEO, North America Group. Douglas has been with the Coca Cola Company since 1988 and took up his current position in 2000. His biography reports that he serves on the boards of Radiant Systems, GS1 US, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and the East Lake Foundation. He also serves on the Industry Affairs Council of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Previously, Douglas worked in a variety of sales and sales management positions for Procter & Gamble.

• Gary P Fayard - Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President. Fayard joined Coca Cola in 1994 and took up his current roles in 2003. His biography reports that he 'currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Company's two largest public bottling partners, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Coca-Cola FEMSA'. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and serves on the Board of the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts and The University of Alabama Board of Visitors. His previous involvements include serving the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, the American Assembly at Columbia University, the Alliance Theater and American Kidney Foundation. Before joining Coca Cola, Fayard spent 19 years with Ernst and Young where he took on various roles including Partner and Director.

• Irial Finan - Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company and President of Bottling Investments and Supply Chain. Finan's biography reports that he joined Coca Cola in 1981 and is is also a Non-Executive Director (and Chairman of the audit committee) for eircom plc.

• Glenn G Jordan S - President and CEO, Pacific Group. Jordan's biography describes how he joined Coca Cola in 1978 and has undertaken a variety of roles including Executive Vice President for Coca-Cola Latin America and Director of Operations for the Latin America Group.

• Geoffrey J Kelly - General Counsel and Senior Vice President. Kelly's biography reports that he joined Coca Cola in 1970 and has 'held a series of positions with increasing responsibility in the Legal departments' of the Coca Cola Company and its subsidiaries.

• Robert P Leechman - Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, Vice President. Leechman's biography reports that he joined Coca Cola in 1988 and has worked in a variety of positions including the Middle East Division, General Manager for the 2000 Olympics in Australia and President of the Central Europe and Russia Division before taking up his current position in 2005. Prior to joinging Coca Cola, Leechman spent nine years with Mars Inc.

• Thomas G Mattia - Director of Worldwide Public Affairs and Communications and Senior Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company. Mattia's biography describes him as a '35-year veteran of public affairs and communications'. In his current role he is...

'responsible for leading the Company's global public affairs and communications, which include corporate communications, media relations, public policy, government relations, corporate reputation, shareowner affairs, executive and employee communications, digital communications and archives. His role also includes leadership of the Company's Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Council and the Bottler Public Affairs Advisory Board'.

Mattia also serves on the board of advisors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the board of the High Museum of Art. He is a trustee of the Institute of Public Relations and serves on the committee of the PR Seminar. He is a member of the Arthur W Page Society, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

Mattia was previously Vice President for EDS, was Head of Public Affairs for the Ford Motor Company and held executive positions with GCI Jennings, Hill and Knowlton (where he supported the opening of China's first McDonald's) and IBM. Prior to this, 'Mattia managed Jimmy Carter's U.S. presidential campaign in Vermont and worked as a reporter for four U.S. newspapers, beginning his career at The Trenton Times in New Jersey'.

• Cynthia P McCague - Director, Human Resources & Senior Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company. McCague's biography reports that she joined Coca Cola in 1982 and took up her current roles in 2004. Her biography adds that 'prior to joining the Company, Cynthia spent seven years working in manufacturing and local government' but information of who she worked for or what form her roles took are not included.

• Dominique Reiniche - President, European Union Group. Reiniche's biography reports that she 'has spent 13 years with Coca-Cola in France and Europe, holding various marketing, sales and general management positions'. She sits on the Board of ECR Europe and the Board of CIAA (Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU). Reiniche's previous involvements include working as Director of Marketing and Strategy with Kraft Jacobs-Suchard and eight years service with Procter & Gamble. She also served as President of UNESDA (European Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry) between 2005 to 2007, 'during which she led the industry to liaise more with the EU authorities, to communicate more broadly the choice of drinks it offers, and to adopt a self-regulatory code'.

• José Octavio Reyes - President, Latin America Group. Reyes's biography reports that he joined Coca Cola in 1980 and took on his current role in 2002.

• Danny L Strickland - Chief Innovation & Technology Officer, Senior Vice President. Strickland's biography reports that prior to working for Coca Cola, he served General Mills as Senior Vice President (Innovation, Technology and Quality) and held several research and development, engineering and innovation roles at Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods and The Procter & Gamble Company.

• Joseph V Tripodi - Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Senior Vice President. Tripodi's biography describes how he was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Allstate Insurance Co., Chief Marketing Officer for The Bank of New York and Seagram Spirits and Wine Group (1999 to 2002), Executive Vice President for global marketing, products and services for MasterCard International (1989 to 1998), and served seven years with the Mobil Oil Corporation.

Operating Group Leadership

In January 2008, Operating Group Leadership personnel are listed as...

Africa Group - Alexander B Cummings Jr. East and Central Africa Business Unit: Nathan Kalumbu Nigeria Business Unit: Cem Kumral North and West Africa Business Unit: Curtis A Ferguson South Africa Business Unit: William Egbe (Bill)

Eurasia Group - Ahmet C Bozer Adriatic & Balkans Business Unit: Nikos Coumettis India Business Unit: Atul Singh Middle East Business Unit: Rafik El Toukhi Russia, Ukraine & Belarus Business Unit: Clyde C Tuggle Southern Eurasia Business Unit: Selcuk Erden Turkey Business Unit: Ahmet Burak

European Union Group - Dominique Reiniche Central & Southern Europe Business Unit: Michael Holm Johansen Germany Business Unit: Beatrice Guillaume-Grabisch Iberian Business Unit: Marcos de Quinto Northwest Europe & Nordics Business Unit: Michael A Clarke

Latin America Group - José Octavio Reyes Brazil Business Unit: Brian J Smith Latin Center Business Unit: Xiemar Zarazúa Mexico Business Unit: James R Quincey South Latin Business Unit: Francisco Crespo Benítez

North America Group - J Alexander M Douglas Jr. Canada Business Unit: Vincent R Timpano, Melody Justice

Pacific Group - Glenn G Jordan S and Paul K Etchells China Business Unit: Steve K W Chan and Douglas Jackson Japan Business Unit: Masahiko Uotani and Dan Sayre Philippines Business Unit: Alexander P M von Behr and Kandy Anand Southeast & West Asia Business Unit: Manuel Arroyo

Corporate Functional Leadership

In January 2008, Corporate Functional Leadership personnel are listed as...

• Harry L Anderson
• Jean-Michel R Arès
• Carol Crofoot Hayes
• Ingrid Saunders Jones
• David M Taggart
• Kathy N Waller
• Steve M Whaley
• Jerry S Wilson

Subsidiaries & Alliances

• Coca-Cola Bottlers of Turkey (CCBT). CCBT was formed in 1998 as a joint venture between The Coca-Cola Company, The Anadolu Group and Özgörkey Companies.

According to Transnationale.org, Coca Cola created The Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness in 2004, 'a research institute created by the company with the goal of countering criticism about their role of soft drinks in the obesity epidemic'. They are also reported to be a member of the advisory group of Green Business Network and to have donated 1 million USA dollars to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 2003. In 2007, Coca Cola is reported to have donated $20 million to nature conservation association WWF in a partnership agreement.

• Beverage Partners Worldwide In 1991 Coca-Cola and Nestlé formed Coca-Cola and Nestlé

Refreshments in order to expand both companies’ position in the ready-to-drink tea category. In 2001, the joint venture was renamed Beverage Partners Worldwide

Public Relations

In January 2008 Coca Cola is listed as a client for French PR firm I&E

According to Transnationale.org, Coca Cola have enlisted the help of the following PR agencies...

• Momentum, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, 'was awarded Coke’s promotions and retail account for the summer launch of its new low calorie cola in 2004'.
• GCI Group - 2004
• Lexis PR, the 'UK firm charged to recover from the disastrous launch of Dasani in England' in 2004.

India Resource report that Perfect Relations were hired by Coca Cola to develop a new image for the company in India.

The Polaris Institute confirm GCI, Lexis PR and Perfect Relations as PR firms acting on behalf of Coca Cola and add the involvement of Cohn, Overstreet and Parrish.

Affiliations

• American Chamber of Commerce EU Committee
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development
• Business in the Community
• The Conference Board

• Council of Marketing Executives II (The Conference Board)
• Council of Financial Executives (The Conference Board)
• Performance Improvement Council (The Conference Board)
• Council on Work Force Diversity II (The Conference Board)
• Council of Financial Executives (The Conference Board)
• Council for Business Development and Integration Executives (The Conference Board)

• European Policy Centre
• International Chamber of Commerce
• International Life Sciences Institute
• Business for Social Responsibility
• United States Council for International Business
• CSR Europe
• Corporate Council on Africa
• CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution
• Public Affairs Council
• International Business Leaders Forum
• The Cato Institute
• Keep America Beautiful
• American Council on Science and Health
• Center for Consumer Freedom
• European Food Information Council

Law Firms

In 2005, the India Resource Centre report that law firm Daniel & Gladys who represented the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (a subsidiary of the Atlanta based Coca-Cola company) threatened a law suit against Mr. Sharad Haksar (an Indian Photographer) for displaying a billboard depicting coca cola and empty water pumps (Coca cola stands accused of causing water shortages in India).

The Polaris Institute list the following as acting on behalf of Coca Cola ...

• White and Case – reported to be representing Coke in the Colombia lawsuit taking place in Miami
• King and Spalding LLP – Georgia
• Brinks, Hofer, Gilson and Lione - Chicago

Further info

See Coca Cola, CSR and Crimes