Coca-Cola seeks to elect Kent as a director

ATLANTA The Coca-Cola Company board of directors has nominated president and coo Muhtar Kent to stand for election as a director of the company at the annual meeting of shareowners in April 2008. The company announced in December of 2007 that Kent will become ceo of the company on July 1.

"It is a logical and natural step for Muhtar to be nominated to the board of directors at this time as part of our orderly transition to new leadership that we announced in December," said chairman and ceo Neville Isdell. "It will give Muhtar several months to acclimate himself with his new duties as director in advance of becoming chief executive officer in July. The entire board looks forward to working with Muhtar as both a director and our new ceo."

Kent returned to The Coca-Cola Company in May 2005 as president of the North Asia, Eurasia and Middle East Group. He was named president of Coca-Cola International in January 2006 and appointed president and coo of the company in December 2006. As coo, he has overseen a number of significant initiatives, including the acquisition of glaceau in 2007, key joint ventures and strong volume and double-digit earnings growth.