Coca-Cola announces appointments to Support New Operating Structure

Norah Odwesso                                                David Kimondo
Public Affairs & Communications Director         Account Director
Coca-Cola Central, East and West Africa         Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Cell: +254 733 900 350                                      Cell: +254 721 610 103
Email: nodwesso@coca-cola.com                    Email: David.Kimondo@hkstrategies.co.ke

The Coca-Cola Company announces appointments to Support New Operating Structure. The Company names Nathan Kalumbu as President for Coca-Cola Eurasia & Africa Group
 
Nairobi, September 13, 2012....The Coca-Cola Company has announced a number of leadership appointments to support the Company’s new global operating structure. As part of the reorganization of the Company’s structure, Nathan Kalumbu will be appointed as President for Coca-Cola’s Eurasia & Africa Group, effective 1st January, 2013.
 
Kalumbu, a Zimbabwean national, is currently the President of the Nairobi-based Coca-Cola Central, East and West Africa (CEWA) Business Unit. In his new capacity, Kalumbu will lead Coca-Cola’s business, spanning across Africa, the Middle East, Russia Ukraine & Belarus as well as Central Asia.
 
Kalumbu has successfully held numerous positions of increasing responsibility over his 22-year career with The
Coca-Cola Company. He has successfully led Coca-Cola’s growth in the Sub-Saharan Africa whose region is currently experiencing significant economic growth and relative political stability.
 
Succeeding Kalumbu is Kelvin Balogun, currently serving as Managing Director for Coca-Cola Nigeria. He will lead Coca-Cola’s operations in the Central East & West Africa, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
 
Balogun is currently the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria. Over the past 18 months he led the development and execution of a multi-year strategic plan including capability and leadership building to re-energize the business in Nigeria, and drive Coca-Cola’s performance in Africa’s second largest market. Prior to his appointment as Managing Director of Coca-Cola in Nigeria, Balogun was Coca-Cola’s General Manager for the East Africa franchise.
 
Commenting on the announcements, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Muhtar Kent stated that the announcements demonstrate the talented, diverse and experienced senior management team that the Company is fortunate to have worldwide. “These executives are leading our operating business around the world at a critical time as we build the right structure for the next phase of our journey toward achieving our 2020 Vision.

We have solid momentum in our business, and we continue to lay the foundation for strong leadership and management continuity for years to come”.
 
The changes, which will take effect on 1st January 2013, consolidate the leadership of the Company’s global operations under the Bottling Investments Group and two large, but similar sized geographic regions (Coca-Cola Americas and Coca-Cola International) to streamline reporting lines, intensify focus on key markets and create a structure that leverages synergies and provides flexibility to adjust the business within these geographies in the future.
 
More information on the Company’s previously announced plan to organize around three major operating businesses is available at:

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/dynamic/press_center/2012/07/new-operating-structure-leadership-appointments.html.
 
About The Coca-Cola Company
 
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks.

Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.

Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.