After nine years as CEO of Coca Cola, Muhtar Kent handed the reins to James Quincey, the company’s COO and president, on May 1. The move was not a surprise: Quincey has been the heir apparent at Coke for a couple of years, and Kent’s retirement was announced in December. Kent will be staying on as chairman.
Coca-Cola is #64 on the CEO1000 list of largest public and private companies (ranked by revenue), sponsored by Chief Executive and RHR International.
Quincey earned his degree as an electrical engineer, but he quickly turned to business and a career path that has included a consulting stint followed by two decades at Coke. And he comes well-recommended: “I know Jim and like him, and believe the company has made a smart investment in the future with his selection,” noted Warren Buffett—whose Berkshire Hathaway firm holds 400 million Coke shares.
Quincey is taking charge of one of the world’s great iconic brands, but he will nevertheless be dealing with some significant challenges—a fundamental one being shifting consumer tastes, as more people turn to healthy beverages.
Total revenue has declined for the last several years, and just before he assumed the CEO role, Quincey announced that the company would be cutting 1,200 jobs from a group of 5,500 corporate positions—part of a plan to save about $800 million through 2019. As a Coke veteran, however, Quincey is well acquainted with the company‘s strengths and challenges—and as he said in a recent interview, “I don’t think we’re broken, but I don’t think we’re where we need to be.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
