Business Wire IndiaCoca-Cola India today announced the appointment of General Ved Prakash Malik (Retd.) as the Chairman of the Coca-Cola India Advisory Board (IAB). The India Advisory Board is the foremost advisory body within Coca-Cola India Pvt. Ltd. (CCIPL) which advises the leadership team to formulate short and long-term strategies around various business issues. As the Chairman, General Malik's principal role along with other members of the IAB will be to provide guidance to Coca-Cola India on strategic matters, and to ensure synergistic communication between
the board and the management.
Ishteyaque Amjad, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia said,
"We are proud to have General V P Malik as the Chairman of the India Advisory Board. He has been associated with us for many years and we have been benefitted by his guidance, leadership and vision. General Malik's life and professional experience inspires us to become better in our pursuit to create value for India." The India Advisory Board meets bi-annually to review the performance of the Company in India and discuss the strategic roadmap for the future. Some of the other distinguished members of the board include Mr. Deepak Parekh (Chairman, HDFC Limited), Mr. SK Munjal (Managing Director, Hero Corporate Services Limited), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Eminent Musician), Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon Limited) and Mr. TV Mohandas Pai (Chairman, Manipal Global Education Services).
Speaking on the appointment, General VP Malik (Retd.) said, "I have had the privilege to be associated with CCIPL for years and I am humbled by the trust reposed by the Advisory Board in me. The company is on a transformative journey to offer more choices for beverages to consumers and help Indian farmers through the Virtuous Fruit Circular Economy initiatives. This is definitely an exciting time to make a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the firm." General Malik will succeed, Late Mr. Naresh Chandra (Retd.), Padma Vibhushan awardee, former Indian Ambassador to the United States of America (1996-2001) and Cabinet Secretary, Government of India (1990-1992).
Well-known for his exceptional command during the Kargil War, the former Army Chief is a recipient of the prestigious Param Vishishta Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishishta Seva Medal (AVSM). His honours include 'Excellence in Leadership' award by Atur Foundation, Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors, New Delhi and 'Pride of the Nation', award by the Doon Citizens' Council.
General Malik retired from service in September 2000, and has since been engaged with numerous committees, including two terms with the National Security Advisory Board. In 2007, he was part of the panel to select and rank Top Companies for Leaders in Asia Pacific Region by Hewitt Associates and Fortune Magazine. Currently, he is a member and advisor on the board of some well-known multinational companies.
About The Coca-Cola System in India The Coca-Cola system comprising of Coca-Cola India Private Limited, a concentrate supply company along with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited and fifteen (15) franchise bottling partners of The Coca-Cola Company offer a range of healthy, safe, high quality, refreshing beverage options to consumers. From the year 1993, when The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, re-started its operations in India, the system has been refreshing consumers with its beverage products – Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up Charged, Fanta, Fanta Green Mango, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Maaza, VIO flavoured milk, Minute Maid range of juices, FUZE tea, Georgia and Georgia gold range of hot and cold tea and coffee options, Aquarius, Schweppes, Kinley and Bonaqua packaged drinking water and Kinley Club Soda. The Coca-Cola system through its strong network of over 2.6 million retail outlets, touches the lives of millions of consumers, at a rate of more than 500 servings per second. Its brands are some of the most loved and sold beverages in the country – Thums Up and Sprite – being the top two selling sparkling beverages.
The Coca-Cola India system provides direct employment to over 25,000 people and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people. The Coca-Cola system in India is contributing in its own small way to building sustainable communities through community initiatives like Support My School, VEER, Parivartan and Unnati and by reducing its own environmental footprint. For further information on the company's India operations and its products, please visit:
www.coca-colaindia.com and
www.hindustancoca-cola.com. Follow us on Twitter at
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