Coca-Cola names a company veteran as its new CEO
Coca-Cola’s chief operating officer will become the next CEO in the first quarter of 2026.
The US beverage giant said that its board of directors elected Henrique Braun as CEO, effective March 31.
James Quincey, Coca-Cola’s chairman and CEO, will become executive chairman of the company.
Braun, 57, has worked at Coca-Cola for three decades.
He oversaw operations in Brazil, Latin America, Greater China and South Korea before assuming the COO role in early 2025.
He held positions overseeing Coca-Cola’s supply chain, new business development, marketing, innovation, general management and bottling operations.
David Weinberg, Coca-Cola’s chief independent director, called Quincey, 60, a “transformational leader” who will remain active in the industry.
During Quincey’s nine years as CEO, Coke acquired more than 10 billion-dollar brands, including BodyArmor and Fairlife.
It also introduced Coke to the alcoholic beverage market with Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, which was launched in 2021.
Quincey led a restructuring in 2020 that cut Coca-Cola’s brands in half and laid off thousands of employees.
Quincey said he wants to modernize Coca-Cola’s structure and focus its investments on fast-growing products such as Simply and Minute Maid juices.
But as Quincey steps down as CEO, Coca-Cola faces numerous challenges, including declining demand for its products in the U.S. and Europe and customers increasingly scrutinizing ingredients.
In early 2025, after prodding from US President Donald Trump, Coke announced that it would launch a version of its own brand Coke containing cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
Weinberg said the board is confident Braun will build on the company’s strengths and explore growth opportunities around the world.
Coke shares were flat in after-market trading.
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