Coca-Cola to merge Eurasia, Africa divisions

Soft drink maker Coca-Cola Co. said it will merge its Eurasia and Africa operations and create a new chief administrative officer position to oversee several back-office operations.

In a memo to employees, the company named Alex Cummings, the current president of the Africa group, to the new post.

Coca-Cola Chief Executive Muhtar Kent said he also plans to nominate Cummings as executive vice president at its board meeting next month.

In his chief administrative officer role, the company said, Cummings will oversee the company's legal, public affairs and communications and human resources operations, among other responsibilities.

Ahmet Bozer, the president of the current Eurasia group, will be the president of the new Eurasia and Africa group, the company said.

Coca-Cola added that it will move its Adriatic and Balkans business unit from the Eurasia group to the Europe division.

The company said the restructuring should help the company "sharpen our internal
focus on the marketplace with greater speed, productivity and effectiveness."

The letter below is what Mr. Beasley sent to Coca-Cola:

June 21, 2008

Dear Ms. Jones:

I just received a call from Nairobi, Kenya informing me of the pending merger of Coca Cola’s Africa, Europe and Asia. The new name, Eurasia, suggest that Africa no longer exist! This will serve to strengthen our resolve to press forward for change in the ownership structure in Africa. We will press for greater inclusion of African descendants living in the Americas, especially in Brazil and Columbia.

Over a billion loyal Coca Cola consumers are African! What percentage of Coca Cola worldwide is owned by Africans? With Mr. Alexander Cummings being moved into what is described as the “back office operations,” with the title of Chief Administrative Officer, what African hold real authority in your company?

What benefits will Africa derive from this merger? Have the African Union been apprised of this pending change. I understand that Coca Cola is a private company; however, financial advantage must not be the primary consideration for this restructure.

It would appear that a change of this magnitude would require approval of your board of directors. This merger is to take place on July 1, 2008 prior to your Wilmington meeting.

The group that met with you and Mr. Cummings earlier this year regarding Africa has been expanded to include people from Africa and Central/South America. We were surprised that we was not apprised of the pending changes and had to receive the information from a third party source in Africa.

We are grateful for the role you continue to play at Coca Cola. Our source indicated that you are in Istanbul, Turkey we trust that you have a productive trip and a safe return to Atlanta.

Sincerely,


Joe Beasley, President, African Ascension www.africanascension.org





The changes will take effect July 1.