FDBusiness.com

Damian Gammell will succeed John F Brock, who is retiring, as chief executive of Coca-Cola European Partners on28 December, 2016. Coca-Cola European Partners is the result of the merger of three Coca-Cola bottlers in Western Europe – Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Iberian Partners and Germany-based Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetranke. Coca-Cola European Partners operates more than 50 bottling plants, employs approximately 25,000 people and generates volume sales of 2.5 billion unit cases.

Damian Gammell is currently chief operating officer of Coca-Cola European Partners. Prior to this, he served as chief executive of Anadolu EFES , one of the world’s largest beverage companies and chief executive of Coca-Cola Icecek, the world’s fourth largest Coca-Cola bottler. During his 25-year career with the Coca-Cola system, Damian Gammell served as head of The Coca-Cola Company’s operations in Germany and Russia, and worked in parts of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

“The board of directors would like to thank John Brock for his leadership in establishing the strong foundation from which our new business operates,” says Sol Daurella, chairman of Coca-Cola European Partners. “John and Damian were both instrumental in the creation of Coca-Cola European Partners. Damian is an exceptional leader who has the vision, experience and dynamism we need to transform and grow the business into the future. Our board of directors has every confidence in him and his ability to drive long-term growth and shareowner value. Together, John and Damian will ensure a smooth transition, and we have the right leadership to ensure Coca-Cola European Partners is well placed to realise its potential.”

“The non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage category in Western Europe represents significant potential for growth. We have created the platform to capture that opportunity and have already begun to see benefits coming from the merger. I know that with Damian as its leader, the company is ready to build on this momentum and realize the opportunities that lie ahead,” says John Brock.

“Driven by the needs of our customers and focused on how we serve our local markets, Coca-Cola European Partners will unlock the opportunity that exists in this category and win in Western Europe,” says Damian Gammell. “It will be an honour to lead this company and work alongside some of the best people in the business and the world’s most loved brands, aligned behind one roadmap for success.”

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Pictured (left to right): Damian Gammell, Sol Daurella and John F Brock.