Coca-Cola names Henrique Braun next CEO to replace James Quincey

Coca-Cola announced on Wednesday that Henrique Braun will become its next CEO, effective March 31, 2026.

Brown, the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, will succeed longtime CEO James Quincey, who will move to the role of executive chairman after nine years leading the beverage giant, according to an announcement from the company.

“I am honored to take on this new role, and deeply appreciate everything James has done to lead the company,” Brown said in a statement.

“We will unlock future growth in partnership with our bottlers. I am excited about the future of our business and see tremendous opportunities in the rapidly changing global market.”

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Brown, 57, has been chief operating officer since January and oversees Coca-Cola’s global operating units. He joined the company in 1996 and has held several global “roles of increasing responsibility,” according to the announcement.

In his new role, Brown will prioritize global growth opportunities, get closer to consumer needs and expand the use of technology to drive performance, Coca-Cola said.

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Coca-Cola bottles are displayed on a shelf in a supermarket, October 29, 2024. (Reuters/Dado Rovik/Photo Illustration/Archive Photo/Reuters Photos)

Quincy, 60, became CEO in 2017 and helped turn Coca-Cola into a “total beverage company.”

He also guided the company through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since Quincy took over as CEO, Coca-Cola’s stock price has risen nearly 63%, according to Reuters.

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James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, after a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2024. (Holly Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

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“I am stepping down as CEO after 30 years with the company, and I appreciate how privileged it has been to serve this great and enduring work,” Quincy said in a statement.

“Henrique is a trusted and highly experienced business partner who is the right leader to guide the company and the Coca-Cola system to future growth and success.”