Coca-Cola gets a new vp

ATLANTA The Coca-Cola Co. has named Robert Leechman as vice president of the company. Leechman is chief customer and commercial officer. In this role, he is responsible for leading the company's global system in building collaborative customer relationships across all key business channels, with a focus on best-in-class innovation, execution, shopper marketing and revenue growth management.

Leechman has more than 18 years' experience with the Coca-Cola system. After a nine-year career with Mars Inc. in sales management, he joined Coca-Cola & Schweppes Beverages in England in 1988, as general sales manager. In 1995, he moved to the Middle East division as region sales manager for the Gulf States. Leechman led the 1993 re-entry of the company into the key market of Saudi Arabia, after a 25-year absence, and became region manager for the six gulf countries.