Coca-Cola India head Kini quits, Krishnakumar to replace him

 Beverages giant Coca-Cola Company on Friday said its President for India and South West Asia Business Unit, Venkatesh Kini, has quit after leading the operations for over three years and T Krishnakumar will replace him.

Kini, who has chosen to return to the US to pursue other opportunities outside the Coca-Cola system, will remain with the company till July-end to ensure a smooth transition for his successor, Coca-Cola Company said in a statement.

He had worked with the company for 19 years.Krishnakumar is currently CEO and South West Asia Regional Director of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the bottling arm of the company. Subsequently, Vamsi Mohan, Region Director for Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia of Bottling Investments Group (BIG), will replace Krishnakumar as South West Asia Regional Director for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, it added.

The company further said Christina Ruggiero will be the new CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. She will report to Mohan.

She is currently chief procurement officer for the Coca- Cola System in North America, and president and CEO for Bottlers’ Sales & Services.