By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Luis Felipe Avellar has been appointed president of the Africa operating unit for the Coca-Cola Company with headquarters based in South Africa. He was appointed on August 8. Avellar will begin his new role on September 1, succeeding Luisa Ortega, who is transitioning to president of the company’s Europe operating unit. Avellar will report to Coca-Cola Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Henrique Braun.
Before his new appointment, Avellar served as president of the company’s Mexico operations, part of the Latin America operating unit. “Luis has had an outstanding career that has included extensive leadership roles in our Latin America operations,” said Braun. “Luis also has experience working for our company in Africa, and I’m excited to see him return to Johannesburg to build on the system’s ongoing work to serve the growing African market.”
Avellar, 49, began his career at Coca-Cola in 2002 as a finance specialist in Brazil. He held various roles of increasing responsibility in Brazil before being named general manager of the Brazil South Region in 2016.
In 2019, Avellar moved to Johannesburg to serve as vice president and general manager for Southern Africa. Two years later, he returned to Latin America to lead Brazil and South Cone operations. He was named to his most recent role in Mexico in 2023.
Avellar started his professional career in 1998 in the finance function with SC Johnson in Brazil. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and an executive MBA in Finance from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School in Spain.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories. The company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. It sells multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide.
