The soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola Co., has finally ended its protracted search for a new marketing chief, with the appointment of Daniel P. Palumbo as chief marketing officer.
Palumbo (45) was previously a president of the photographic group, Eastman Kodak, and his appointment continues Coke’s recent trend for bringing in people from outside the company to major positions. He succeeds Stephen Jones who stepped down from the post in March.
Palumbo will oversee all the group’s marketing activities around the world, overseeing brand strategy and co-ordinating the now more devolved marketing activities in different regions.
He will report to president and chief operating officer, Steven J. Heyer, who himself was brought in from outside the company in 2001 rising quickly to the COO post. As a former advertising executive, Heyer is known to have a significant involvement in the group’s marketing policy.
