The Coca-Cola Company has announced one of the most significant leadership changes in its recent history: Brazilian executive Henrique Braun has been chosen as the company’s next global CEO, officially taking on the role from 31 March 2026. The appointment represents not only an important internal transition, but also a symbolic milestone in the global corporate landscape — the leadership of one of the world’s most valuable and influential brands will now be held by a professional with strong ties to Brazil and extensive international experience.
Henrique Braun, 57, will succeed James Quincey, who has led Coca-Cola since 2017 and guided the company through a period of organisational transformation and portfolio expansion. Quincey will remain with the company as executive chairman of the board, ensuring continuity and support for the new leadership.
Braun’s career at Coca-Cola spans decades of progressive experience and leadership across strategic markets. He joined the company in 1996 as a trainee in Atlanta and has since held roles that took him to lead operations in various regions around the world — including Brazil, Latin America, China and South Korea — as well as areas such as supply chain, new business development, marketing and bottling operations.
His academic background combines a solid foundation in Brazil with broad international exposure. Braun holds a degree in agricultural engineering from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a master’s degree in science from Michigan State University and an MBA from Georgia State University. Born in California and raised in Brazil, he brings a multicultural perspective that the press has highlighted as a competitive advantage for leading the company in a rapidly evolving consumer landscape.
The announcement received wide coverage in the international media, which underscored two pillars behind the decision: on the one hand, strategic continuity at Coca-Cola’s helm — Braun is seen as an executive who will preserve the brand’s stability and identity; on the other, the opportunity to expand the portfolio towards healthier products that better reflect shifting consumer preferences, a central theme in an increasingly health- and sustainability-conscious market.
Analysts also point out that the transition comes at a challenging moment for beverage companies globally, with consumption of traditional soft drinks declining in some regions and growing demand for low-sugar or “functional” options. Braun’s experience across diverse markets is therefore considered a strategic asset for guiding the company through this landscape.
Braun’s career path and the board’s confidence in his leadership reflect a balance between valuing seasoned internal talent and the need to adapt a long-standing global giant to a future where consumption, technology and social responsibility intersect. This moment is not merely a business announcement: it is a symbol of how leaders with global expertise and Brazilian roots can shape the future of brands that remain firmly at the centre of the world economy.
