Coca-Cola makes organisational changes to its Pacific group

The soft drink multinational has promoted Atul Singh as deputy president, Pacific Group and Venkatesh Kini as deputy president, India and Southwest Asia business unit.

US-based soft drinks company Coca-Cola has announced organisational changes in its Pacific Group, which will be effective from July 1. It has promoted Atul Singh as deputy president, Pacific Group, and Venkatesh Kini as deputy president, India and Southwest Asia business unit.

Singh in his new mandate will look after the operations of greater China, Korea and INSWA (India & Southwest Asia) business units. He will report to Ahmet Bozer, president, Coca-Cola International. His areas of operations will also include Taiwan, Macau, Mongolia and Hong Kong.

Singh has earlier led the INSWA business unit comprising key markets such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives for nearly eight years. Under his leadership, the India operations registered 27 consecutive quarters of growth, out of which 19 have been quarters of double-digit growth.

As part of the company's increased focus on the China business, David Brooks, president, GC&K business unit, Coca-Cola is appointed chairman, GC&K, Coca-Cola. Brooks will continue to oversee the business unit's operations in Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong and Macau. He will handle the public affairs and communications, and sustainability functions of the same business units. He will also partner with the merger and acquisitions team and expand the company's portfolio in China. Brooks will report to Singh.

Kini in his new role will look after the business units of the INSWA region and the entire INSWA team will report to him. Kini, in his turn, will report to Singh.

He has served the company for more than 14 years and has more than two decades of experience in India and the US, in marketing, sales and general management roles. Before taking over as senior vice-president, India operations, Coca-Cola, Kini served as VP, marketing, global juice, based in Atlanta.

Singh's association with Coca-Cola dates back to the late '90s when he joined as VP, Coca-Cola India operations. He has worked with Palmolive for more than 10 years and has over two decades of experience.

Coca-Cola in India operates with more than 2.2 million outlets and offers several brands such as Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite and many others. It has 57 bottling plants and employs more than 25,000 people.