Functional Leadership

Robert P. Leechman is chief customer and commercial officer, leading the global customer and commercial leadership agenda of The Coca-Cola Company. Robert and his team lead our system in building collaborative customer relationships across all key channels, with a focus on best-in-class innovation, execution, shopper marketing and revenue growth management.

Mr. Leechman brings more than 18 years of experience from across 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 1990, he moved to the Middle East Division as region sales manager for the Gulf States. Mr. Leechman led the 1993 re-entry of our Company into the key market of Saudi Arabia, after a 25-year absence. Following this, he became region manager for the six gulf countries. In 1997, he accepted the role in Australia as general manager for the 2000 Olympics, where he led the activation of the system's sponsorship activities for an Olympics that was viewed by the system as one of the most successful ever. In 2001, Mr. Leechman was appointed president of the Central Europe and Russia Division, and then briefly, the Central Europe Division after the creation of the European Union Group. He was named president, Global Customer and Commercial Leadership, Europe in September 2005.

Mr. Leechman is a British citizen and a graduate of Oxford University.