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The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company elects Dr. Rhona Applebaum as Vice President

Posted: 26 April 2012 | Coca Cola | No comments yet

This election becomes effective immediately…

Rhona Applebaum, Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company

Rhona Applebaum, Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company

The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today elected Dr. Rhona Applebaum, Coca-Cola’s Chief Scientific and Regulatory Officer, as a Vice President of the Company. This election becomes effective immediately.

Dr. Applebaum leads The Coca-Cola Company’s Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) as well as the Company’s Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness. As head of SRA, Dr. Applebaum is responsible for driving evidence-based research and education programs, advancing regulatory science strategies, communicating Company positions on SRA matters and promoting dialogue and understanding concerning products and ingredients. She recently concluded a three-year term as a member of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and concluded a two-year term as President of the International Life Sciences Institute of North America.

Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company in 2004, Dr. Applebaum was Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer for the National Food Processors Association (NFPA), where she was responsible for the overall direction of NFPA’s three laboratory centers, the Office of Food Safety Programs and NFPA’s Research Foundation.

Dr. Applebaum previously held leadership positions with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, the American Cocoa Research Institute and the National Confectioners Association. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wilson College in history and biology, a Master’s degree in nutrition and food science from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in food microbiology and food safety from the University of Wisconsin.

The Board of Directors today also declared a regular quarterly dividend of 51 cents per common share. The dividend is payable July 1, 2012, to shareowners of record as of June 15, 2012.

In February, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s 50th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend 8.5 percent from 47 to 51 cents per share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.88 per share in 2011. The dividend reflects the Board’s confidence in the Company’s long-term cash flow.

The July dividend will not be impacted by the recommended two-for-one stock split announced by the Company yesterday, which is subject to approval by the Company’s shareowners.

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