Coca-Cola names Alfredo Rivera as North America unit president

Coca-Cola has appointed Alfredo Rivera, a 23-year veteran of the company, as the new president of its North America division, effective immediately.

Most recently, Rivera has served as president of the company’s Latin America group which includes 40 countries.

He will succeed James “Jim” Dinkins who is retiring after more than three decades with Coca-Cola and who has led the division since 2018. Dinkins also served as senior vice president of Coca-Cola.

Rivera joined Coca-Cola in 1997 in the Central America and Caribbean division as a district manager for Guatemala and El Salvador. He has since held a number of senior positions at the firm and took up his position as the head of the company’s Latin America group in 2016.  

Prior to joining the company, Rivera worked for two independent Coca-Cola bottlers in Honduras and El Salvador. In his new role, Rivera will report to president and COO Brian Smith.

“Alfredo has had a remarkable career in Latin America, which is made up of a large number of highly complex and diverse markets,” said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.

He added: “Alfredo has built a networked organisation that is positioning our business to emerge stronger from the current pandemic. He is a strong successor for the top role in our flagship North America market, where he will build on the great progress we’ve seen under Jim’s leadership. I thank Jim for his many years of service to the company and countless contributions to our business.”