Brian Smith is president of the Coca-Cola Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) group, with responsibility for overseeing the operations of six business units from Western Europe to Russia to southern Africa.

Before being promoted to his current position, Mr. Smith was group president of Latin America from 2013 to 2016. Key areas of focus in this and previous assignments in Latin America were the development and effective deployment of talent, and building Coca-Cola leadership in still beverage categories via newly aligned business models and bolt-on acquisitions in juices, teas and dairy.

Mr. Smith joined the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1997 as Latin America group manager for mergers and acquisitions. In this capacity, he was responsible for bottler and brand transactions in Latin America, and helped formulate and execute system franchise strategies. From July 2001 until July 2002, he worked as executive assistant to vice chairman and C.O.O., Brian Dyson. From August 2002 to October 2008, he was president of the Brazil division, before serving as president of the Mexico division from 2008 to 2012.