Coca-Cola names COO Henrique Braun as incoming CEO effective March 2026 

USA – Coca-Cola has announced that Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun will become its next Chief Executive Officer in the first quarter of 2026.  

The company stated that its board of directors elected Braun as CEO, effective March 31, 2026. Current Chairman and CEO James Quincey will shift into the role of executive chairman, maintaining active involvement in the business. 

Braun, who joined Coca-Cola in Atlanta in 1996, has advanced through a series of leadership roles across multiple regions and business functions over nearly three decades. 

His experience includes supply chain management, new business development, marketing, innovation, and general management, as well as oversight of bottling operations.  

In January 2025, he assumed the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, taking responsibility for all of the company’s operating units worldwide.  

Prior to this, from 2023 to 2024, he served as Senior Vice President and President of International Development. 

Following the announcement, Braun expressed gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledged Quincey’s contributions over the years.  

He said he intends to build on the company’s existing momentum, emphasizing continued collaboration with Coca-Cola’s global bottling partners and identifying opportunities for growth in an evolving international market. 

David Weinberg, Coca-Cola’s lead independent director, described Quincey as a transformative leader who will continue to support the company’s progress in his new role.  

Over Quincey’s nine-year tenure as CEO, Coca-Cola added more than 10 billion-dollar brands, including BodyArmor and Fairlife. He also led the company’s entry into alcoholic beverages through the launch of Topo Chico Hard Seltzer in 2021. 

Quincey guided Coca-Cola through a restructuring in 2020 that reduced the number of brands by half and resulted in significant workforce reductions, a move aimed at streamlining operations and prioritizing fast-growing segments such as Simply and Minute Maid juices.  

His tenure also included steering the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the creation of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in 2020, now the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler globally. 

Reflecting on his forthcoming transition, Quincey stated that stepping down marked the culmination of a 30-year career with the company.  

He expressed confidence in Braun as the leader positioned to drive the business and Coca-Cola system toward future growth and long-term success. 

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