The Hindu Business Line : Coke's Indian operations to see an overhaul

THE Indian operations of the Coca-Cola Company seem set for a major organisational restructuring, with a number of top-level changes likely to be made soon. Coca-Cola India is slated to get a new Head of Operations, in place of Mr Vipul Saurabh, the present incumbent. Several key finance and bottling functionaries are also being reshuffled.

Besides, the Atlanta-based parent has decided to replace the current chief financial officer (CFO) with another expatriate while making another one the vice president (finance) for bottling. Two new directors (finance) for bottling are also being appointed.

Acknowledging that several changes are being made in the finance and bottling functions, Coca-Cola India President, Mr Sanjiv Gupta, told Business Line, "We are getting a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Several other changes in the finance team have already been announced internally. Our Head of Operations, Mr Vipul Saurabh, is expected to be given an overseas assignment and Atlanta will announce who replaces Mr Saurabh."

According to company officials, the outgoing CFO, Mr Mark Roddy, will continue to hold office till Atlanta sends in a replacement. Mr Mark Hudden has already been appointed by the parent company as the Vice-President (Finance) of bottling operations in India, replacing Mr Sanjeev Kumar, who is being given an overseas posting.

The officials said that Mr Ravi Prakash is returning from a stint in BPW Zurich (a joint venture between Coke and Nestle) as the Director, Finance, of Coke in India whereas Mr Gaurav Duggal has been promoted to Deputy CFO for bottling operations within the company.

When asked whether the chief of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Mr John Eustace, is taking over as the new chief of bottling operations in India, Mr Sanjiv Gupta said, "We will revert to you as and when we have anything to share."

The organisational restructuring at Coke India appears to be in the wake of the visit of the President of Bottling Investments of Coca-Cola Company, Mr Irial Finan, and Coke's Asia-Pacific chief, Mr Patrick Siewert, last month.

At present, the bottling function is housed under Coke India's 51 per cent subsidiary, called Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. There are 24 company-owned and 26 franchisee-owned bottling plants at present. Both the bottling and marketing functions are overseen by Mr Gupta.

Dismissing reports of his quitting the company, Mr Sanjiv Gupta said, "As of now, I have not resigned but I cannot comment on what happens in the future."

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