Coca-Cola Appoints Brian Smith As COO, CFO Kathy Waller To Retire

(RTTNews) - Coca-Cola Company Thursday said it has elected Brian Smith to serve as president and COO, effective January 1, 2019. Chief Financial Officer Kathy Waller to retire.

Smith will to CEO James Quincey. Smith is a 21-year Coca-Cola veteran who currently serves as president of the company's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) group.

The appointment of a president and COO will allow Quincey, who has served as CEO since May 2017 and is a member of the board of directors, to focus on the overall long-term strategic direction and success of the company.

John Murphy, who currently serves as president of the company's Asia Pacific group, will become senior vice president and deputy CFO on January 1, 2019. He will be promoted to CFO on March 16, 2019, following the retirement of Waller.

Waller currently serves as executive vice president, CFO and president of Enabling Services. She will depart the company after 32 years of service to Coca-Cola.

The company also announced that Nancy Quan has been elected senior vice president and appointed Chief Technical Officer, effective January 1, 2019, reporting to Quincey. She currently serves as a vice president for the company and Chief Technical Officer for Coca-Cola North America.