Coca-Cola Announces Leadership Changes In ASEAN & South Pacific And Executive Team

The Coca-Cola Company has announced significant leadership changes within its global structure, effective June 1. Selman Careaga, currently the president of the global Coca-Cola Trademark business, is set to lead the ASEAN & South Pacific operating unit. He will be taking over from Claudia Lorenzo, who is transitioning to a new role as chief of staff to James Quincey, the company's chairman and CEO. These shifts come as part of a broader strategy to enhance leadership and drive growth across different regions.

Careaga's new position will see him based in Singapore, where he will oversee a team responsible for both developed and developing countries in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. This move marks a significant step in his career, having led the Coca-Cola Trademark globally since 2020. Under his leadership, the brand achieved a record-high value share and re-entered the top 10 of Kantar’s world's most valuable brands list.

On the other hand, Claudia Lorenzo, who has been at the helm of the ASEAN & South Pacific unit since 2020, will now work closely with Quincey and the executive leadership team from Atlanta. Her focus will be on aligning and advancing critical initiatives across the company. Lorenzo's successor in her previous role, Lovella Adams, is transitioning to become senior vice president, Technical, Innovation and Supply Chain, for the North America operating unit.

Careaga's journey with Coca-Cola began in 2004 in Mexico, where he started in marketing. His career trajectory within the company includes leading global marketing for Sprite and Fanta in 2009 and serving as vice president of marketing for Coca-Cola Brazil. His extensive experience within different facets of the company underscores his capability to drive growth and innovation. Careaga holds an engineering degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

About Claudia Lorenzo

Lorenzo has been with Coca-Cola since 1994, starting her career in Brazil. Her diverse roles within the company have spanned key account management, shopper marketing, planning, franchise leadership, and sustainability efforts. Before joining Coca-Cola, Lorenzo worked for Globo TV in Brazil for four years. She holds a degree in journalism from Helio Alonso University (FACHA) and an executive MBA focused on retail management from IBMEC.

About Lovella Adams

Adams has been part of the Coca-Cola family since 2006, bringing a wealth of experience from her time with General Motors prior to joining Coke. Her roles have included vice president of Technical, Innovation and Supply Chain for Greater China & Mongolia and working within the Coca-Cola system in Thailand and the Philippines. Adams' educational background includes degrees from Spelman College, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Kettering University.

The leadership changes at The Coca-Cola Company reflect its commitment to nurturing talent within its ranks and adapting to market demands across different regions. With these strategic appointments, Coca-Cola aims to further solidify its position as a leading beverage company on a global scale.