
Iowa-based Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling announced that longtime Chairman and CEO Kirk Tyler has handed the reins to President and COO Rob Feeney. Tyler will remain company chairman and active in the industry. Feeney is married to Tyler’s daughter, Jessica Tyler Feeney. The Feeney’s have become majority owners of the business, which employs 800 workers and operates nine distribution centers providing products to five states. Tyler’s grandfather founded the company in 1909, making the Feeney’s fourth-generation owners. Tyler started work at the bottler 48 years ago and eventually took over from his father.
Keurig Dr Pepper appointed Roger Johnson as chief supply chain officer, reporting to CEO Ozan Dokmecioglu. He succeeds Tony Milikin, who is leaving the company after a little more than a year in the role to pursue new opportunities, KDP said in a statement. Johnson most recently served as chief product officer, establishing an operations center in Singapore to diversify KDP’s coffee appliance manufacturing network in Asia, according to the company. KDP also appointed Christopher Martin as SVP of Coffee Supply Chain and Paul DaRosa as SVP of Cold Beverages Supply Chain. They will report to Johnson. The realignment is “designed to strengthen focus, speed, and accountability at the Business Unit level, while accelerating productivity across the enterprise,” the statement read.
Coca-Cola Femsa CEO John Santa Maria Otazua will retire on Jan. 1, the company announced last week. He will be succeeded by Coca-Cola Femsa Brazil CEO Ian Craig.
BlueTriton, the company created following the acquisition of Nestle Waters North America, has named Kheri Holland Tillman as CMO. She comes from Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. She previously served as VP of marketing at Heineken USA, where she oversaw the successful “Most Interesting Man in the World” marketing campaign.
Bang Energy owner Vital Pharmaceuticals has hired former PepsiCo and Coca-Cola finance associate Kathy Cole as COO. Industry watchers surmise the pick was made to accommodate lenders and creditors. Meanwhile, a bankruptcy judge has permitted Bang to draw down $34 million from a $100 million credit line to fund operations, Bloomberg reported. The ruling came despite objections from creditor Monster Beverage, whose lawyers argued the decision would make it harder to collect money owed by Bang.
Sports drink maker Electrolit has named former Red Bull and PepsiCo manager Enrico De La Torre as commercial director for the company’s Canada office.
Enhanced water startup Lemon Perfect has named former Taco Bell marketer Richa Anand as Director of Brand Marketing. At Taco Bell, she “was instrumental in some of the brand’s most notable food partnerships and innovation launches, including the Big Cheez-It Tostada and the Loaded Truff Nacho Fries,” according to a statement. She also helped launch the Taco Bell brand in markets including Australia and Thailand.
Former Costa Coffee CEO Jill McDonald has rejoined McDonald’s as president of its International Operated Markets division. She previously worked at the fast food chain from 2006 to 2015.
Former Essentia Founder Ken Uptain and the company’s founder Scott Miller will launch a canned stevia-sweetened enhanced water called Yesly next year, BevNet reported. Essentia was sold to Nestlé last year.
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