The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced a number of new leadership appointments to support the company’s new global operating structure.

Effective Jan. 1, 2013, the new structure will consolidate leadership of global operations under the Bottling Investments Group and two large geographic regions, Coca-Cola Americas and Coca-Cola International,  to streamline reporting lines, intensify focus on key markets and create a structure that leverages synergies and provides flexibility to adjust the business within these geographies in the future, the company says.

Coca-Cola’s North America Group, a division of Coca-Cola Americas, is designed to leverage world-class brand marketing capabilities with best-in-class supply chain and customer service capabilities. The new structure will position the company's U.S. and Canadian business to better serve bottlers, customers and consumers in its flagship market, it says.

As part of the new operating structure, J. Alexander "Sandy" Douglas Jr., current president of Coca-Cola North America, will move to global chief customer officer, reporting to Coca-Cola Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Office Muhtar Kent, while also continuing to lead the North America franchise strategy.  

Katie Bayne, current president of North America Sparkling Beverages, will take on Douglas’s current role as president of North America Brands. She will be responsible for strategic marketing, sparkling beverages, Glacéau, Minute Maid juices, coffee, tea and water, diversity business development and Latin affairs in the United States.

Brian Kelley, current chief product supply officer for Coca-Cola Refreshments, will be promoted to president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola Refreshments, where he will have responsibility for all foodservice, regional sales, product supply, customer care, customer retail and commercial operations in the United States.

The North America Group will report to Steve Cahillane, current president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Refreshments, who was recently appointed president of Coca-Cola Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

"Today's announcement demonstrates the talented, diverse and experienced senior management team our company is fortunate to have worldwide," Kent said in a statement. "These executives are leading our operating businesses around the world at a critical time as we build the right structure for the next phase of our journey toward achieving our 2020 Vision. We have solid momentum in our business, and we continue to lay the foundation for strong leadership and management continuity for years to come."