Global beverages manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company has announced organisational and personnel assignments for its newly formed Coca-Cola International.

Muhtar Kent, president, Coca-Cola International, said the organisation is designed to spur growth in the rapidly developing markets of the East, South Asia and Pacific Rim Group, while providing focus on critical markets in China, Japan, Russia and Europe.

"The organisational structure for Coca-Cola International should reflect our 'manifesto for growth' in action and be supportive and consistent with our highest priority, which is on-the-ground execution," said Kent. "This structure, and its exemplary leadership team, enables us to focus on driving profit for the company by meeting the needs of our customers and consumers, while ensuring the Coca-Cola system earns its rightful recognition as one of the world''s most respected corporate citizens."

The company's new appointments are effective immediately.

Glenn Jordan, currently executive vice president and director of operations for the Latin America Group, will succeed Patrick Siewert as president of the East, South Asia and Pacific Rim Group. Jordan will also serve on the company's executive committee. Siewert will take on a senior consulting role, reporting to Kent, and will focus on significant strategic projects, leveraging his broad experience across Asia, both with the company and in his earlier career.

Three divisions of the North Asia, Eurasia and the Middle East Group - China, Japan, and Eurasia and the Middle East - will continue to report directly to Kent. The China and Japan divisions will continue to be led by Paul Etchells and Masahiko Uotani, respectively. The Eurasia and the Middle East Division will continue to be led by Ahmet Bozer and be expanded to include the additional markets of Israel, Albania, and the Palestinian Territory, as well as Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Clyde Tuggle, president of the Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Division, will report to Bozer.

The Africa, European Union and Latin America Groups, led by Alex Cummings, Dominique Reiniche and José Octavio Reyes, respectively, will continue to report directly to Kent.

Jordan is a 28-year veteran of Coca-Cola with a distinguished record in operations and has demonstrated a wide capability for both strategic and tactical action throughout his career, significantly contributing to the company's business turnarounds in Argentina and Brazil. Recently, he led an advisory council chartered by the executive committee to institutionalise company-wide revenue growth management and to create the 'leadership experience', Coca-Cola's senior executive development programme. Jordan also led the project team in 2004-2005 that facilitated the 'manifesto for growth' throughout the organisation.

Jordan joined Coca-Cola de Colombia as a field representative in 1978, rising to region manager in 1985. In 1989, he was transferred to Atlanta as marketing operations manager. Prior to his current assignment, he served as president of the South Latin America Division, comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, during a period of economic instability in the region.

In 1990, he became vice president of Coca-Cola International and executive assistant to the Pacific Group president. In 1991, he was transferred to Brazil as senior vice president, marketing and operations, and in 1995, he became president of the River Plate Division, which comprised Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognised as the world's most valuable brand, it markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. It has among the world's largest beverage distribution system and operates in virtually all the countries in the world.