The Coca-Cola Company

Savoy Professional Magazine Ranks The Coca-Cola Company As #1 Ideal Employer For African-Americans

May 12, 2006 edition

The Coca-Cola Company was ranked #1 on a list of the Top 100 Ideal Employers for African-Americans, according to a study conducted by Universum Communications in conjunction with Savoy Professional, a leading African-American business magazine.

"There’s not an organization in the world that has more of a global reach," Orlando Ashford, group director of corporate HR and culture transformation for The Coca-Cola Company, was quoted as saying in the spring 2006 issue of Savoy Professional. "We’re making strides to ensure the brand on the inside is reflective of the messaging we send to the outside, so what we deliver matches our customer base."

The results were tabulated from more than 2,400 responses from African-American graduate and undergraduate students. Universum polled students on a range of issues, including recruiting, compensation, the overall job market and career expectations -- and then asked the respondents to list their ideal employer(s).

When asked to name the key factors that impact the process of selecting an employer, respondents overall listed a clear path of advancement as the most important factor (20 percent), followed by work-life balance and total compensation package. MBA students surveyed placed more emphasis on compensation (18 percent), followed closely by company culture and a clear advancement path.

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