Muhtar Kent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, effective as of July 1, 2008.

 

Beginning December 2006, Mr. Kent served as President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all operations of the business.

 

Mr. Kent held the position of President of Coca-Cola International through most of 2006. During this time, he was responsible for the Company’s operations outside of North America. From 2005 to early 2006, Mr. Kent was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company’s North Asia, Eurasia and Middle East Group, where he was responsible for the Company’s operations across a broad and diverse geographic region that included China, Japan and Russia.

 

Mr. Kent joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978 and has held a variety of marketing and operations roles throughout his career. In 1985, he was appointed General Manager of Coca-Cola Turkey and Central Asia. From 1989 to 1995, he served as President of the Company's East Central Europe Division and Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola International, with responsibility for 23 countries.

 

Between 1995 and 1998, Mr. Kent served as Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil-Europe, covering bottling operations in 12 countries. From 1999 until his return to The Coca-Cola Company in May 2005, he served as President and CEO of the Efes Beverage Group, a large international public beverage company with Coca-Cola and beer operations in Southeast Europe, Turkey and Central Asia.

 

Mr. Kent holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Hull University in England and a Master of Science degree in Administrative Sciences from London City University. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate Law degree from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta.

 

He is a Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association and a member of the board of the Special Olympics and the Woodruff Arts Center. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Other board memberships include: The United States Council for International Business, the U.S. China Business Council, the National Committee for U.S. China Relations, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the American Turkish Society.