On 10/23/97 -- 5 days after death of chairman/CEO Roberto Goizueta -- Coke board of directors elects new chairman/CEO: Doug Ivester. President of company since 1994, Ivester long regarded as heir apparent to Goizueta; now becomes Coke's 10th chairman. Ivester widely credited with development/implementation of Coke’s anchor bottler strategy (see BD 10/19/97 for Ivester biographic data plus excerpts from previous Ivester interview). Views. Coke system executive knowledgeable of Ivester says: "He has more integrity than anyone I've ever worked with." Adds: "He has a great sense of humor. He may actually be a little shy." Continues: "He has great drive, I think he's a visionary." Coke colleagues praise him, in words of one, as "a great boss." Re Ivester's reputation for toughness and combative style, bottler observes: "What he did before, he did with Roberto's blessing or at Roberto's behest. Now he's chairman. Let's sit back and watch. The Ivester era has begun." Presidency. Coke board names no successor for Ivester as president "at this time." Coca-Cola Enterprises. Ivester CCE board chairman. Multiple industry executives predict, based on history, Ivester soon relinquishes post.

---

---

© 1997 Beverage Digest LLC. See site copyright notice for further information.