Beverage giant Coca-Cola has announced a significant revamp of its global leadership structure, introducing a new Chief Digital Officer (CDO) role to drive digital adoption, unify operations, and sharpen execution across emerging and high-growth markets.
The changes, revealed last Wednesday, will take effect on March 31, 2026, coinciding with Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun transitioning into the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding James Quincey, who will continue as Executive Chairman.
Brandspur Brand News reports that Sedef Salingan Sahin, currently president of Coca-Cola’s Eurasia and Middle East operations, has been appointed as the company’s first-ever Chief Digital Officer. The new enterprise-level position is tasked with integrating digital, data, and operational strategies under one executive, reporting directly to Braun.
The creation of the CDO role reflects Coca-Cola’s growing focus on digital transformation as the company navigates slowing growth in mature markets, rising input costs, and increasingly fragmented consumer demand. Sahin will take over digital strategy responsibilities previously overseen by Chief Financial Officer John Murphy, consolidating digital, data, and analytics capabilities under a single leadership umbrella for the first time.
Over the coming months, Sahin will review and optimise digital teams globally, streamlining processes to improve speed, accuracy, and market responsiveness. Coca-Cola’s partners, including bottlers, ingredient suppliers, and technology vendors, can expect tighter integration between data-driven marketing, commercial execution, and operational planning, with AI-enabled forecasting, personalised promotions, and automated route-to-market systems playing a central role.
The restructuring also includes a strategic focus on emerging and developing markets. Two new market clusters are being established under Braun’s leadership: Sanket Ray will oversee large emerging markets, including India, Greater China, Japan, and South Korea, while Claudia Lorenzo will manage operations across Eurasia, the Middle East, ASEAN, South Pacific, and Africa.
In addition, Chief Marketing Officer Manolo Arroyo will expand his remit to include customer and commercial leadership, linking brand strategy more closely with in-market execution. Murphy remains president and CFO, supervising finance, global strategy, and corporate development.
The leadership overhaul demonstrates Coca-Cola’s commitment to leveraging digital tools and operational excellence across its beverage portfolio, which spans soft drinks, waters, sports drinks, juices, tea, coffee, and plant-based beverages. The company emphasises that digitalisation will be critical for faster innovation, improved supply chain resilience, and more effective retail execution, particularly in fast-growing emerging markets.
