The Coca-Cola Company is organised by geography: four geographic operating segments (EMEA, Latin America, North America and Asia Pacific) plus Bottling Investments, which holds the bottlers the company owns. Under the regions sit operating units such as Africa, Greater China and Mongolia, and India and Southwest Asia, while a Corporate centre and a platform services organisation run strategy and shared services. Global marketing category teams work across the units. Henrique Braun was elected CEO effective 31 March 2026, with James Quincey moving to Executive Chairman.
The 10-K lists five operating segments: EMEA, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific and Bottling Investments. Operating segments are based on geographic responsibility, which the company says matches how management runs the business.
02
Operating units do the local work
Operating units sit under the four geographic segments and focus on regional and local execution. They work with the global marketing category leadership teams to scale new products faster and avoid duplicated work.
03
Corporate has two parts
A center that handles strategy, policy, governance and global initiatives, and a platform services organisation that supplies shared services such as transactional work, data management, consumer analytics and digital commerce.
04
Bottlers sit outside the core
Most drinks are made and distributed by independent bottling partners that buy concentrate. Company-owned bottlers are grouped in Bottling Investments, wherever they are located.
What changed in 2025-26
Global Ventures was closed
Effective 1 January 2025 the company sunset its Global Ventures segment to simplify the structure. Costa, innocent and doฤadan now report within EMEA, and Monster-related fees within the relevant geographic segments.
A new CEO
On 10 December 2025 the board elected Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun as CEO, effective 31 March 2026. James Quincey, CEO since 2017, became Executive Chairman. Braun had overseen all operating units worldwide as COO since 1 January 2025.
Fewer owned bottlers
The company refranchised bottling operations in parts of India in 2024 and May 2025, sold its finished product operations in Nigeria in October 2025 and classified its bottling operations in Africa as held for sale at the end of 2025. It also sold its stake in Coca-Cola Consolidated. Employees fell to about 65,900 from 69,700, mainly because of these divestitures.
AI in the shared services layer
In April 2024 Coca-Cola made a $1.1 billion commitment to the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities under a five-year partnership. Its 2025 10-K names data, artificial intelligence, automation and robotics as tools to digitalise the Coca-Cola system, much of it delivered through the platform services organisation.
Coca-Cola's operating segments, 2025 (Form 10-K)
North America
What it coversUnited States and Canada, including US fountain syrup sales
2025 net operating revenues and operating income$19.6 billion revenue; $5.1 billion operating income
EMEA
What it coversEurope, Middle East and Africa, plus Costa stores worldwide
2025 net operating revenues and operating income$11.5 billion revenue; $4.3 billion operating income
Latin America
What it coversMexico, Brazil and the rest of the region
2025 net operating revenues and operating income$6.3 billion revenue; $3.7 billion operating income
Asia Pacific
What it coversIncluding Greater China, Japan and South Korea, India and ASEAN
2025 net operating revenues and operating income$5.6 billion revenue; $2.0 billion operating income
Bottling Investments
What it coversConsolidated, company-owned bottling operations
2025 net operating revenues and operating income$5.7 billion revenue; $0.4 billion operating income
What it means for you
Read the segment table, not just the brand list: North America brings in the most revenue, and Bottling Investments has low margins.
To work with Coca-Cola locally, start with the operating unit or the bottler for that territory, not head office.
Separate concentrate from finished product: concentrate sales earn higher margins, bottling earns more revenue but lower margins.
Expect the structure to keep moving: refranchising and the closure of Global Ventures show the company prefers fewer owned assets.
For technology vendors, the platform services organisation is where data, analytics and digital commerce sit.
The Business Engineer lens
Coca-Cola’s structure separates what it does best, brands and concentrate, from the capital-heavy work of bottling, and keeps handing that work to partners. The Business Engineer reads the 2025-26 changes as an asset-light company putting AI and shared data in the middle layer, so a lean center can coordinate a very large independent system.
A geographic divisional structure: four regional operating segments with operating units beneath them, a Bottling Investments segment, and a Corporate center with shared platform services. Global marketing category teams work across the regions.
Who is the CEO of Coca-Cola?
Henrique Braun, elected CEO effective 31 March 2026. James Quincey, CEO since 2017, became Executive Chairman.
Does Coca-Cola still have a Global Ventures segment?
No. It was sunset effective 1 January 2025; Costa, innocent and doฤadan now report within EMEA.
How many employees does Coca-Cola have?
About 65,900 at 31 December 2025, down from 69,700 a year earlier, mainly because of divestitures. Most people in the wider system work for independent bottlers.
Coca-Cola’s organizational structure faces the same AI disruption as every legacy CPG company. The Business Engineer’s analysis shows AI is reshaping distribution layers โ the same layer where Coca-Cola’s franchise model operates. As autonomous supply chains emerge (see Amazon’s ASCS platform), Coca-Cola’s physical distribution advantage may erode faster than expected.
The Coca-Cola Company has a somewhat complex matrix organizational structure with geographic divisions, product divisions, business-type units, and functional groups.
In 2021, the company introduced 9 new business units to eliminate the duplication of resources and introduce new products more quickly.
Product-based divisions help Coca-Cola manage a portfolio of approximately 200 brands, while there are also various functional groups to support business operations in multiple departments.
Global Business Units
Type of StructureGeographic Structure
Structure Details– Coca-Cola is organized into global business units (GBUs) that oversee specific geographic regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Global Ventures. Each GBU has its own leadership and adapts strategies to regional market needs.
Advantages– Tailored approach to regional markets. Quick response to market demands. Local market insights.
DrawbacksCoordination challenges between GBUs. Potential duplication of efforts.
Functional Departments
Type of StructureFunctional Structure
Structure Details– Various functional departments like marketing, finance, supply chain, and HR. These departments provide specialized expertise in their respective areas and support global operations.
Advantages– Efficient use of functional expertise. Streamlined processes within departments.
DrawbacksPotential communication challenges. Decision-making delays.
Coca-Cola Bottlers
Type of StructureNetwork Structure
Structure Details– Coca-Cola’s products are primarily distributed through independent bottling partners worldwide. The company’s core organization focuses on coordination, marketing, and brand management, while bottlers handle production and distribution.
DrawbacksPotential challenges in aligning strategies with independent bottlers. Limited control over production and distribution.
Corporate Functions
Type of StructureFunctional Structure
Structure Details– Corporate functions like finance, legal, IT, and sustainability. These functions provide centralized support and services to the entire organization. Operate independently from GBUs and bottlers.
Advantages– Efficient resource allocation. Consistency in global operations. Standardized processes.
DrawbacksPotential disconnect from GBUs and bottlers. Limited specialization.
Strategic Business Units
Type of StructureHybrid Structure
Structure Details– Coca-Cola has various strategic business units (SBUs) responsible for specific product categories, such as sparkling beverages, juices, and dairy. SBUs combine product-focused teams with functional expertise.
Advantages– Specialized product focus and innovation. Expertise in specific product categories.
DrawbacksPotential conflicts between SBUs and functional departments. Complexity in balancing product and functional roles.
Ventures and Investments
Type of StructureHybrid Structure
Structure Details– Ventures and Investments division explores new opportunities, investments, and partnerships to drive innovation and growth. It combines innovation-focused teams with financial and strategic experts.
Advantages– Pursuit of new growth avenues and innovations. Synergy between innovation and financial expertise.
DrawbacksComplexity in aligning innovation with traditional operations. Potential risk associated with new ventures.
Origin story
The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1892 by Asa Griggs Candler who purchased a beverage brand and recipe from pharmacist John Stith Pemberton. After three short years, Coca-Cola was available in every state in the union.
Coca-Cola's organizational structure is a hybrid matrix model combining geographic divisions with functional departments.
To manage its vast global operations, the company has a somewhat complex matrix organizational structure with geographic divisions, product divisions, business-type units, and functional groups.
Interested in learning more about how this gigantic company is structured? Letโs delve into the details below.
Geographic divisions
The Coca-Cola Company is structured according to four geographic divisions not unlike other companies with similar reach.
These divisions, which the company calls segments, are
The company also has two non-geographic divisions which it also calls segments:
Global Ventures (GV) โ this was a unit that was created after Coca-Cola acquired coffee chain Costa Ltd in 2019.
Bottling Investments Group (BIG) โ incorporating all company-owned bottling operations.
Effective January 1, 2021, the company also introduced nine new business units to eliminate the duplication of resources and allow new products to be introduced more quickly.
Business units are also based on geography and include
Each category is led by a President who works across a networked organization to build Coca-Colaโs brand. Each also reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer.
Function-based groups
Coca-Cola has a number of specialized function-based groups where the organization itself is divided according to shared employee skill sets and experience.
Functional groups include
Marketing.
General Counsel.
Security.
Investor Relations.
Global Community Affairs.
Global Finance Operations.
Mergers & Acquisitions.
Services Operations.
Global Flavor Supply.
Communications, Sustainability, and Strategic Partnerships.
Technical and Innovation.
Accounting.
Corporate Development.
Securities and Capital Markets.
Comparison with Top Related Companies
PepsiCo: PepsiCo uses a mixed organizational structure, incorporating elements of both functional and divisional systems. It organizes its divisions based on both geography and products (e.g., Frito-Lay North America, PepsiCo Beverages North America, and Latin America). This structure allows PepsiCo to manage a diverse portfolio of products more efficiently than a strictly geographic or product-based structure.
Nestlรฉ: As a global food and beverage company, Nestlรฉ employs a matrix organizational structure. This structure is complex, combining geographic divisions with global product divisions (e.g., Waters, Nutrition, Milk products). Nestlรฉโs approach provides a balance of localized adaptation and global integration, which is crucial for managing its extensive range of products.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group: Before its acquisition by Keurig Green Mountain, Dr Pepper Snapple primarily used a functional organizational structure, with a focus on North America. This structure was simpler and more centralized, focusing on product lines rather than geographic divisions, which differs significantly from Coca-Cola’s emphasis on global geographic segmentation.
Similarities and Differences
Similarities: All these companies use elements of divisional structuring, either by geography or product or both, to effectively manage operations across diverse markets and extensive product lines.
Differences: Coca-Colaโs focus is more on geographic divisions, allowing it to tailor its strategies to regional markets. In contrast, PepsiCo and Nestlรฉ use a mix of geographic and product-based divisions, providing them with the flexibility to focus simultaneously on product innovation and regional needs. Dr Pepperโs structure was more centralized, which can enhance efficiency but may limit market responsiveness.
Implications
Market Adaptation: Coca-Colaโs geographic divisional structure enables strong local presence and quick adaptation to changing local consumer preferences, which is vital for the beverage industry.
Innovation and Product Development: PepsiCo and Nestlรฉโs mixed structures facilitate both regional tailoring and global product innovation, potentially offering a broader innovation landscape compared to Coca-Colaโs primarily geographic focus.
Operational Efficiency and Control: Coca-Colaโs structure, while beneficial for local adaptation, might face challenges in global strategic alignment and operational efficiency compared to more centralized structures like that of Dr Pepper Snapple.
Key Highlights
Matrix Organizational Structure: The Coca-Cola Company employs a matrix organizational structure that encompasses geographic divisions, product divisions, business-type units, and functional groups.
Geographic Divisions: Coca-Cola is divided into four geographic segments: Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Latin America, North America, and Asia Pacific.
New Business Units: Introduced in 2021, nine new business units were established to eliminate resource duplication and expedite the introduction of new products. These units are also based on geography.
Product-Based Divisions: Coca-Cola manages its extensive portfolio of around 200 brands through product-based categories such as Coca-Cola, Sparkling Flavors, Hydration, Sports, Coffee and Tea, Nutrition, Juice, Dairy, and Plant, and Emerging.
Function-Based Groups: Various functional groups are organized based on shared employee skill sets and experience. These groups include Marketing, General Counsel, Security, Investor Relations, Global Community Affairs, and more.
Marketing Leadership: Each product-based category is led by a President who reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, facilitating a networked approach to building the Coca-Cola brand.
Diverse Brand Portfolio: Coca-Cola’s complex structure helps manage the vast diversity of its product offerings, from traditional beverages to emerging trends.
Global Presence: The matrix structure allows Coca-Cola to manage its operations across the globe, catering to various regional preferences and market demands.
Connected ยท Coca-Cola
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Gennaro Cuofano is a CRO and tech executive who has worked in AI since late 2015, starting with bringing NLP, natural-language generation, voice and chatbot products to the marketing industry. His background is in law and finance: he holds a Master's degree in Law and an International MBA with an emphasis on corporate finance (LUISS Business School and the University of San Diego, 2012), and worked as a financial analyst at a real-estate investment firm in San Diego and as an assistant controller. His work focuses on business model strategy, business engineering and, more broadly, structural analysis: how companies make money, read from their own filings. He created FourWeekMBA and leads research there and at The Business Engineer, his newsletter on AI and business strategy, with over 95,000 subscribers and more than 1,000 published analyses. His writing has also appeared on Entrepreneur (for example, How to Digitize a Family Business in Europe) and HackerNoon. Find him on LinkedIn and Substack. See how we source.
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