Beverage giant Coca-Cola just announced the future leadership of the company. The Coca-Cola Company today announced that its board of directors has elected Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun as CEO, effective March 31, 2026.
Henrique Braun is a long-time executive at The Coca-Cola Company, currently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a role he assumed on January 1, 2025. He joined Coca-Cola in 1996 and has held leadership positions across multiple regions and business units, including Latin America, Greater China, and South Korea, as well as roles in supply chain, marketing, and bottling operations. Braun has been recognized for his strategic vision and operational expertise.
His early work included positions in supply chain, new business development, marketing, innovation, general management, and bottling operations, giving him deep operational experience. From 2013 to 2016, he served as President of the Greater China & South Korea business unit, and from 2016 to 2020 he was President of the Brazil business unit.
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Braun will succeed James Quincey, who will transition to Executive Chairman after serving as CEO for nine years.
The Coca-Cola Company, one of the world’s most recognized beverage companies, was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886. Its creation is credited to Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist who developed the beverage as a syrup intended for medicinal purposes. Pemberton’s formula combined extracts of coca leaf and kola nut, giving the drink both its name and distinctive flavor. Coca-Cola was first sold at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886, mixed with carbonated water. The name “Coca-Cola” was suggested by Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, who also designed the now-famous cursive logo.
As CEO, Braun will focus on opportunities to build on this strong foundation, according to the company’s press release. His priorities include seeking the best growth opportunities worldwide; driving the company to get even closer to consumer needs; and leveraging technology as an enabler of business performance and growth.
In 1888, businessman Asa Griggs Candler purchased a controlling interest in Pemberton’s company. Under Candler’s leadership, The Coca-Cola Company was formally incorporated in 1892. Candler focused on expanding the brand through innovative marketing and distribution, including distributing coupons for free samples, placing branded signage in public spaces, and producing promotional merchandise. These efforts helped transform Coca-Cola from a local soda fountain beverage into a nationally recognized brand.
The original formula of Coca-Cola included coca leaf extract, which supposedly originally included small amounts of cocaine, and kola nut extract for caffeine. By the early 20th century, the formula was adjusted to remove the psychoactive elements of coca leaf while retaining its flavor. The company also developed a systematic bottling process, allowing Coca-Cola to expand across the United States and later internationally.
Today, the Coca-Cola Company operates in over 200 countries and owns hundreds of beverage brands. Its global success traces directly back to Pemberton’s original formula and Candler’s marketing vision, demonstrating how a small pharmacy experiment grew into a worldwide phenomenon.
The Coca-Cola Company’s success underscores the importance of combining innovation with strategic execution, demonstrating how a small, well-conceived product can transform into a worldwide phenomenon, while continuing to evolve in response to global opportunities and consumer expectations.