The Coca-Cola company’s organisational structure consists of a board of directors, elected by the company’s shareholders, that has the authority to make the company’s final decisions. Members of senior management and a variety of standing committees execute the board of directors’ decisions.
The board of directors of Coca-Cola only reports to the company’s shareholders. The board is responsible for the selection and oversight of top management, which includes the chief executive officer and the deputy chief executive officer. Muhtar Kent was both the CEO and the chairman of the board of directors as of May 2014. Audit, remuneration, directors and corporate governance, executive, finance, management development, and public issues and diversity review are the seven standing committees. The committees conduct self-evaluations and provide reports to the board of directors. The board of directors is accountable for the CEO’s annual self-assessment and evaluation. In addition to the board of directors, additional leadership structures include the senior operations leadership, which is responsible for the operations and oversight of Coca-Cola on various continents, and the senior functional leadership, which is responsible for administration, public affairs, finances, and other practical considerations.
The Coca-Cola business does not sell and distribute the final product. Instead, it manufactures and sells syrups, concentrates, and beverage bases to bottling partners who handle packaging, retailing, and distribution. These bottlers collaborate with grocery shops, restaurants, and other outlets to distribute completed products to consumers.
