Leadership transition set for March 2026
Coca-Cola announced Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun will take over as CEO next year, succeeding James Quincey as the beverage giant faces softer global demand for carbonated drinks. The handover becomes effective March 31, when Braun will also be nominated to join the board. Quincey, who has led the company since 2017, will remain as executive chairman.
During his tenure, Quincey, 60, guided the refranchising of Coca-Cola’s bottling operations, steered the company through the pandemic and advanced a portfolio shift toward beverages viewed as healthier alternatives. Braun, 57, joined Coca-Cola in 1996 and has held a range of senior roles across markets before becoming COO earlier this year.
Focus on global growth and consumer shifts
Coca-Cola said Braun will be responsible for identifying new avenues for expansion, sharpening the company’s response to evolving consumer preferences and accelerating progress in digital and production technology. His appointment comes as the company works to regain momentum in categories that have slowed.
In the third quarter, Coca-Cola reported a 1 percent increase in global unit case volume, reversing the decline seen earlier in the year. Price-sensitive buyers have been purchasing fewer soft drinks, prompting the company to introduce smaller or lower-cost options. At the same time, premium offerings such as Smartwater and Fairlife have posted stronger growth, suggesting that consumers are selective rather than uniformly cautious.
Coke’s position against competitors
Across Quincey’s leadership period, Coca-Cola has generally outperformed PepsiCo, in part because of its strong presence in restaurants, stadiums and entertainment venues. The company also maintains an edge in the soft drink category: Coca-Cola remains the top-selling soda in the United States, and Sprite recently overtook Pepsi to claim the No. 3 spot.
Shares of Coca-Cola were steady in after-hours trading on Wednesday. The stock is up nearly 13 percent this year, contrasting with a modest decline for PepsiCo. Coca-Cola’s market value now exceeds 300 billion dollars, far ahead of Pepsi’s roughly 200 billion.
