Coca-Cola Appoints a Latin American as its Global CEO for the First Time

Coca-Cola announced a major leadership transition, naming Henrique Braun as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2026, marking a new phase for the global beverage company.

Leadership transition: Henrique Braun to succeed James Quincey

The Coca-Cola Company confirmed that Henrique Braun, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will take over as CEO at the end of March 2026. He will replace James Quincey, who has led the company for nine years as Chairman and CEO.

Quincey, 60, will transition into the role of Executive Chairman of the Board. Additionally, Braun, 57, is expected to be nominated as a director at the company’s 2026 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

David Weinberg, Coca-Cola’s Lead Independent Director, described Quincey as a “transformational leader,” highlighting his role in steering the company through the COVID-19 pandemic and repositioning it toward a more comprehensive, service-oriented strategy.

Quincey’s legacy: restructuring and brand expansion

During his tenure, Quincey led a significant corporate restructuring in 2020, reducing the company’s brand portfolio by half and implementing layoffs to focus investments on high-growth segments.

Under his leadership, Coca-Cola also strengthened its portfolio by building more than ten billion-dollar brands, including BodyArmor and Fairlife. The company also expanded into the alcoholic beverages segment with products such as Topo Chico Hard Seltzer.

Henrique Braun’s trajectory within Coca-Cola

Henrique Braun brings nearly 30 years of experience within the company, having joined Coca-Cola in 1996 in Atlanta. Throughout his career, he has held several senior leadership roles across key global markets.

His recent positions include serving as President of International Development (2023–2024), where he oversaw seven of the company’s nine global operating units. Prior to that, he led the Latin America division between 2020 and 2022 and served as President for Greater China and South Korea from 2013 to 2016.

Born in California and raised in Brazil, Braun holds advanced degrees from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Michigan State University, and Georgia State University.

Strategic priorities for Coca-Cola’s next phase

In a company statement, Braun emphasized continuity and future growth:

“I will focus on sustaining the momentum we have built with our system. We will work to drive future growth in partnership with our bottlers.”

He also pointed to key priorities for his leadership, including capturing global growth opportunities, meeting evolving consumer needs, and leveraging technology to enhance performance in an increasingly dynamic and competitive market.