General Counsel Consulting Career Feature
Bernhard Goepelt, The Coca-Cola Company By Teresa Cajot The new-year is set to bring some big changes for The Coca-Cola Company. It was recently announced that the company’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel Geoffrey J. Kelly will be handing his post over to Bernhard Goepelt in 2012.
Kelly has served the company for more than 42 years and has held a number of positions within the legal division. He has served as Senior Counsel for the Pacific Group, Middle and Far East Group, and International Operations. In 2004 he stepped into the role of general counsel and in 2005 he was appointed to his current post, of senior vice president and general counsel.
East, and Pacific Groups. He has alsoserved as an associate general counsel, working from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta.
Kelly will remain with The Coca-Cola Company in the role of senior vice president through February to ensure a smooth transition for Goepelt, who has already taken on duties in his new role as senior vice president, general counsel, and chief legal counsel.
“Bernhard brings to the role comprehensive knowledge of our system, strong global legal expertise and a passion for developing a legacy of talent for the future. We wish Bernhard the best of success in his new role,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.
Goepelt, a native of Germany, has been with The CocaCola Company since 1992. He initially joined the company’s German Division as legal counsel and has since worked with the company in a number of other positions. He has served as Legal Counsel for the Middle and Far East Group; Division Counsel for the Southeast and West Asia Division, Thailand; and Group Counsel for Central Europe, Eurasia and the Middle
As the largest beverage company in the world, The Coca-Cola Company offers more than 500 sparkling and still brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, and more. Coca-Cola serves customers in more than 200 countries.
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In his new role, Goepelt will report directly to Coca-Cola’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Alex Cummings.
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