Who was the CEO of Coca-Cola from 2008 to 2017?

Muhtar Kent was the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company from 2008 to 2017.

Kent became Coca-Cola’s chief executive officer effective July 1, 2008, succeeding Neville Isdell. He had first joined Coca-Cola in Turkey in 1978, learning the company’s distribution business by traveling across the country and selling beverages from trucks.

His career included leadership of Coca-Cola’s international operations, where he oversaw business outside North America before taking the top corporate role. He became chairman in 2009, combining the CEO and chair positions for much of his tenure.

Coca-Cola announced in December 2016 that Kent would step down as CEO in May 2017, with president and COO James Quincey taking over. Kent remained chairman until 2019. Neville Isdell therefore belongs immediately before Kent, while Douglas Ivester and Roberto Goizueta led Coca-Cola in earlier periods.