---
title: "WSJ: Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent to Step Down Next Year"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/2a129b95-2fd2-4900-9555-10bf250ff63e
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/wsj-coca-cola-ceo-muhtar-kent-to-step-down-next-year-8431
category: "Finance"
topics: ["Finance & M&A","People"]
published: 2016-12-09T16:11:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:12:03.681Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/52706cc67a04c1564260f1c62c91cd4c5604.jpg
---

# WSJ: Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent to Step Down Next Year

**TL;DR:** Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent will step down in May 2017 and be succeeded by James Quincey. Kent will remain chairman after transitioning out of the CEO role.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2016-12-09. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/wsj-coca-cola-ceo-muhtar-kent-to-step-down-next-year-8431).*

## Story

Coca-Cola Co. announced on Friday the resignation of Muhtar Kent, which will take effect in May 2017. Wall Street Journal reports that the company’s president and operating chief James Quincey will succeed Kent at that time. In the wake of new soda taxes and an industry shifting away from sugary drinks, Quincey will have to help the soda giant find a path forward.

"Having worked closely with James during the past 10 years of his 20-year career with our company, I know that his vast industry knowledge, expertise with our brands, values and system, coupled with an acute understanding of evolving consumer tastes, make him the ideal candidate to effectively lead our company and bottling system," Kent said in a statement.

Kent has served as Coca-Cola’s chief executive since 2008 and will remain chairman after he transitions out of the role. As CEO, Kent has diversified Coke beyond soda with acquisitions such as Energy Brands Inc., maker of Vitaminwater and Smartwater.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- General (sector)
- Coke (company)
- ceo succession (topic)
- company leadership (topic)
- beverage industry (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/wsj-coca-cola-ceo-muhtar-kent-to-step-down-next-year-8431). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/2a129b95-2fd2-4900-9555-10bf250ff63e).