Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) plans North America leadership change as Jennifer Mann departs
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The Coca-Cola Company announced a leadership transition for its North America Operating Unit. Jennifer Mann, Executive Vice President and President, North America Operating Unit, will step down from her roles effective July 31, 2026 and then serve as a senior advisor through April 30, 2027.
Beginning August 1, 2026, President and Chief Financial Officer John Murphy will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis while a successor is identified. Mann will receive severance under the company’s Severance Pay Plan and may be eligible for a 2026 annual incentive if she remains employed through year-end.
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Insights
Coca-Cola discloses a planned leadership transition and interim coverage for North America.
The company is transitioning leadership of its largest operating unit as Jennifer Mann exits her role and moves into a defined advisory period through April 30, 2027. Interim oversight by President and CFO John Murphy concentrates responsibility but keeps continuity at the corporate level.
The separation terms follow existing plans, including severance benefits and treatment of performance share units and stock options under standard equity plan rules. Because incentives and equity follow established programs and a successor will be named later, this looks like a structured, neutral governance event rather than a thesis-changing development.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Separation Agreement financial
North America Operating Unit financial
Severance Pay Plan financial
emerging growth company regulatory
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
June 25,
2026 (
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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telephone number, including area code:
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On June 25, 2026, The Coca-Cola Company (the “Company”) announced that Jennifer Mann, Executive Vice President and President, North America Operating Unit, will be departing the Company. Effective July 31, 2026, Ms. Mann will step down from her current positions. Beginning on August 1, 2026, she will continue with the Company as a senior advisor until April 30, 2027. Effective August 1, 2026, John Murphy, President and Chief Financial Officer, will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis.
On June 25, 2026, the Company and Ms. Mann entered into a Separation Agreement detailing the terms of her departure. The Separation Agreement provides that Ms. Mann will receive severance benefits under the terms of The Coca-Cola Company Severance Pay Plan. With respect to annual incentives, if Ms. Mann remains employed through December 31, 2026, she will be eligible for an annual incentive award for 2026. She will not be eligible for an annual incentive award for 2027. With respect to long-term incentives, Ms. Mann will not receive any additional equity grants and all of Ms. Mann’s outstanding performance share unit awards and stock option awards will be treated according to the existing terms of the equity plans and related agreements. Ms. Mann’s retirement benefits will consist of those benefits accrued and vested under the standard terms and conditions of the plans in which she participates. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by the Separation Agreement for Ms. Mann, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
A copy of the Company’s press release announcing these changes is furnished to this report as Exhibit 99.1.
| Item 9.01(d). | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| Exhibit 10.1 | Separation Agreement and Full and Complete Release and Agreement on Trade Secrets and Confidentiality between The Coca-Cola Company and Jennifer Mann, dated June 25, 2026. | |
| Exhibit 99.1 | Press Release of The Coca-Cola Company, dated June 25, 2026. | |
| Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the iXBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE COCA-COLA COMPANY | |||
| (REGISTRANT) | |||
| Date: June 25, 2026 | By: | /s/ Monica Howard Douglas | |
| Monica Howard Douglas | |||
| Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel | |||
Exhibit 99.1
| |
News Release |
The Coca-Cola Company Announces Leadership Transition
for North America Operating Unit
ATLANTA, June 25, 2026 – The Coca-Cola Company today announced that Jennifer Mann will step down from her role as EVP and President, North America Operating Unit effective Aug. 1, at which time John Murphy, President and Chief Financial Officer, will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis. Mann will stay with the company through April 2027 as senior advisor to ensure a smooth transition.
A successor for President, North America Operating Unit will be announced at a later date.
Mann began leading the company’s largest operating unit on Jan. 1, 2023, with a focus on accelerating growth as a purpose-driven total beverage company. Under her leadership, the North America Operating Unit has delivered strong revenue and profit growth.
“I am grateful to Jennifer for her tremendous contributions to The Coca-Cola Company as an operator and leader,” said Henrique Braun, CEO. “Her people-first legacy remains in the many high-performing teams she’s led across the Coca-Cola business.”
About Jennifer Mann
Over her 29-year tenure with The Coca-Cola Company, Mann served in roles of increased responsibility spanning operations and customer leadership. From 2019 until leading North America, Mann was president of Global Ventures, including Costa Coffee and Coca-Cola’s investment in Monster Beverage Corp. She served as SVP and chief people officer from 2017 until 2019. She was chief of staff for James Quincey, then President and Chief Operating Officer and later CEO, from 2015 to 2018.
From 2012 to 2015 as vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Freestyle, Mann accelerated its global expansion across the Coca-Cola system. Additional prior roles include vice president, Foodservice & On-Premise Strategy and Marketing for Coca-Cola Refreshments; director, McDonald's Customer & Consumer Operations and director, Good Answer. Mann joined Coca-Cola in 1997 as a manager in the National Customer Support division of North America.
Mann serves on several board of directors including Verizon Communications, Inc., American Beverage Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Coca-Cola FEMSA, fairlife LLC, Morehouse College, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Contacts:
Investors and Analysts: Todd Beiger, koinvestorrelations@coca-cola.com
Media: Scott Leith, sleith@coca-cola.com