The Coca-Cola Company has announced that Irian Finan is stepping down form his position as president of the company's Bottling Investments Group (BIG), at the end of this year.
Finan will retire on 31 March 2018, but is set to step down from his current role at the end of this year, remaining with the company as an executive advisor during the transition period.
He has worked with the group for over 36 years, with a number of senior roles in Molino Beverages and Coca-Cola HBC, and the company says that he has been instrumental in leading bottling operations across five continents.
“I want to thank Irial for his leadership and dedicated service to our global Coca-Cola system over the last 36 years,” said Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey.
“All of us at Coca-Cola join in wishing Irial, his wife, Deirdre, and his daughters, Ciara and Röisïn, great success in their future plans.”
Leadership Changes
Calin Dragan, who is currently regional director for BIG's southeast Asia and Middle East bottlers, is set to succeed Finan.
He has had 24 years of experience in Coca-Cola, including a succession of bottling leadership roles in Asia Pacific and Europe.
Prior to his current role, he served as Representative Director and acting Chairman, President and CEO for Coca-Cola East Japan.
The company says that as the new head of BIG, he contribute to Coca-Cola's overall growth, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region, and the refranchising of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.
“Calin brings a great breadth of system experience and proven leadership abilities,” said John Murphy, president of Coca-Cola's Asia Pacific Group.
“He is the right person to lead BIG, including a strong focus on execution and people development, as the business continues to be reshaped for the future.”
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
