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The Coca-Cola Company

Sells soft drink concentrates to bottlers worldwide

Senior Director, Sales - Walmart Sparkling Soft Drinks

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026Deadline 10/31/26
$174k - $200k+ 30% annual incentive
Expert
Bachelor's, MBA
Rogers, AR, USA
In PersonTravel required: 0%–25%. Relocation provided.
Sales & Account ManagementAccount Management
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree is required; an MBA or advanced business degree is strongly preferred.
  • At least 12 years of progressive leadership experience in sales, commercial strategy, or customer management within CPG, beverage, food, or retail environments.
  • Significant experience leading Walmart-specific business portfolios and building senior executive relationships with customer decision-makers.
  • Proven success managing highly strategic, complex customer partnerships and delivering sustained revenue and profit growth.
  • Expertise in joint business planning, category leadership, commercial negotiations, and long-range customer development.
  • In-depth understanding of omnichannel retail ecosystems, including Walmart.com, pickup and delivery, retail media, connected commerce, and digital shelf optimization.
  • Strong foundation in revenue growth management, pricing strategy, promotional performance analysis, and investment optimization.
  • Advanced financial acumen with experience managing trade investment, profitability, and commercial performance metrics.
  • Demonstrated ability to leverage shopper insights, analytics, and AI-driven data tools to inform strategic decisions and business outcomes.
  • Excellent knowledge of supply chain, replenishment, inventory management, and operational planning relative to major retail customers.
  • Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive execution across a matrixed organization.
  • Track record of leading transformation, driving cultural change, and developing teams capable of agile delivery and innovative problem-solving.
  • Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require company sponsorship to continue working legally in the United States.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the Walmart Sparkling Soft Drinks business, with accountability for commercial strategy, annual operating plans, execution excellence, and overall business performance.
  • Shape and deliver a multi-year growth vision that enhances category leadership while creating sustainable value for Walmart, consumers, and the Coca-Cola System.
  • Build senior-level relationships with Walmart leadership across merchandising, digital, finance, operations, and omnichannel teams, fostering long-term partnership alignment.
  • Develop and present customer-specific strategies and business plans incorporating growth priorities, innovation initiatives, and investment choices aligned to shopper and category insights.
  • Serve as lead negotiator for major commercial discussions across assortment, pricing, promotion, innovation launches, and merchandising programs.
  • Partner with Marketing and Category Leadership to translate sparkling beverage brand strategies into customer-specific programs that drive joint category success.
  • Advance omnichannel transformation by integrating store, pickup, delivery, retail media, and digital shelf activation into a unified growth agenda.
  • Collaborate across Revenue Growth Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Digital Commerce, and Franchise Leadership to drive execution consistency and alignment.
  • Lead business reviews with Walmart executives, connecting performance results, market insights, customer value, and forward-looking opportunities.
  • Champion AI-enabled tools, data analytics, and shopper insights to determine actionable strategies that enhance profitability and customer engagement.
  • Partner with bottling and franchise teams to ensure execution of promotional calendars, assortment planning, and replenishment programs.
  • Anticipate marketplace shifts and competitive dynamics, positioning the company to respond proactively to evolving customer and consumer trends.
  • Lead, coach, and inspire high-performing teams, building enterprise capability, promoting professional growth, and embedding a culture of collaboration and accountability.
Desired Qualifications
  • An MBA or advanced business degree is strongly preferred.

About the company

The Coca-Cola Company owns and markets beverage brands sold around the world, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, Powerade and fairlife. Its flagship cola has been sold in the United States since 1886 and anchors a portfolio spanning sparkling drinks, water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice and dairy. Rather than bottling most drinks itself, it sells concentrates and syrups to a franchised network of independent bottlers, which package and distribute finished beverages. It earns most revenue from those concentrate sales, plus finished drinks from bottlers it owns. The company was incorporated in 1892 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Atlanta, Georgia

Founded

1892

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Sales momentum is building: global unit case volume rose 5% in the quarter ended July 2026, led by Asia Pacific.
  • Partners multiply Coca-Cola's reach: about 700,000 people worked across its bottling system in December 2025.
  • Coca-Cola promotes from within: Henrique Braun, who joined in 1996, became CEO in March 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Corporate jobs are being trimmed: Coca-Cola cut 75 Atlanta headquarters roles in February 2026, with more waves planned.
  • Costa Coffee staff face an uncertain owner: Coca-Cola again sought a buyer in October 2026 after weak earlier bids.
  • Divestitures shrink Coca-Cola's own payroll: headcount fell to about 65,900 in 2025, mainly from selling businesses.

What makes The Coca-Cola Company unique

  • Coca-Cola sells only drinks, from sodas to coffee and dairy, while its main rival PepsiCo also sells snacks.
  • Coca-Cola also runs coffee shops: its Costa Coffee chain has about 2,700 UK and Ireland outlets and 20,000 staff.
  • Coca-Cola keeps building big brands: it added over 10 billion-dollar brands during James Quincey's nine years as CEO.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Oct 24th, 2026
Coca-Cola falls 2.76% to $92.71 a day after 52-week high as India share loss weighs ahead of results

Coca-Cola shares fell 2.76% to $92.71 on October 23, a day after touching a 52-week intraday high of $95.37. No company-specific cause was reported; the Dow dropped more than 600 points as oil prices rose. Investors now look to third-quarter results on October 27. In the second quarter, Asia Pacific unit case volume rose 8%, but price/mix fell 9% and the company lost value share in the region as an India loss outweighed gains in Japan and China. Chief executive officer Henrique Braun favours volume and affordability over price in India, where seven of the top 10 brands are Coca-Cola's. The stock trades at about 27 times forward earnings, against about 16 for PepsiCo. The Street's mean target is around $95.

CoffeeTalk
Oct 21st, 2026
Coca-Cola's $5 billion bet on Costa Coffee.

Coca-Cola's $5 billion bet on Costa Coffee. Coca-Cola's acquisition of Costa Coffee for $5.1 billion aimed to penetrate the global coffee and tea market, estimated at $570 billion, as a strategic move by then-CEO James Quincey. The plan revolved around leveraging Coca-Cola's distribution prowess to expand Costa's brand via innovative "barista-in-a-box" vending machines and ready-to-drink bottled coffee. However, instead of achieving significant market capture, Coca-Cola faced a series of strategic missteps that limited Costa's impact in the competitive coffee sector, particularly in the U.S., a market dominated by rival brands like Frappuccino from PepsiCo and Starbucks. Costa's high-tech vending machines, designed to offer premium espresso drinks, proved too complex and costly for Coca-Cola's bottlers accustomed to simpler beverage dispensers. The brand struggled to gain traction, especially in the U.S. where it was overshadowed by established preferences for low-cost, high-volume drip coffee. Consequently, Coca-Cola found itself primarily managing over 2,700 Costa coffee shops in the UK and Ireland, where the brand had more recognition. After facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted operations at Costa's shops, Coca-Cola attempted to offload the brand without success. Despite initial setbacks, Costa began to show signs of recovery, with revenue trends improving after cost-cutting measures were implemented, raising speculation about future acquisition attempts. As of now, Coca-Cola maintains that it believes in Costa's potential and is focused on driving growth, contrasting past rumors of selling the brand. Coca-Cola's approach to managing Costa Coffee, particularly during challenging pandemic circumstances, has been scrutinized, with many insiders suggesting that the parent company lacks the experience and engagement pivotal for revitalizing a coffee retail brand. The ongoing integration of tech-driven innovations like the "BaristaBot" and expansion into new markets highlights Coca-Cola's commitment, though the operational and branding complexities continue to prove challenging. Despite these challenges, Costa Coffee has shown resilience, achieving revenue of £1.29 billion in 2025, up 5% from the previous year, and recovering from operating losses. Exiting the pandemic, Coca-Cola and Costa Coffee leaders indicated improvements driven by store renovations and strategic cost reductions. However, the journey still illustrates caution for Coca-Cola as it navigates its trajectory in the coffee segment, reflecting a broader challenge in transitioning from primarily a soft drink distributor to a competitive player in the coffee industry.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 21st, 2026
Coca-Cola stock up 40.2% in a year, but scenario shows just 21.1% upside over three years

Coca-Cola (KO) stock returned 40.2% in the year to October 20, 2026, against 17.1% for the S&P 500. Trefis estimates the shares could gain about 21.1% over three years, before dividends, if revenue grows 8.1% a year and the P/E holds at today's level. That pace is above the 6.5% revenue growth Coca-Cola posted in the twelve months to July 3, 2026. Management expects organic growth of about 5% in fiscal 2026. Revenue would rise from $50.1 billion to $63.4 billion, while earnings would grow from $14.3 billion to $17.3 billion. Net margin of 28.6% is a ten-year high. If revenue growth fell to 1.5% a year, or the P/E dropped to 23.2, the share price would end flat. The fiscal Q3 2026 report, expected around October 27, 2026, is the next test.

The Motley Fool
Oct 21st, 2026
Prediction: Coca-Cola stock is going to soar after Oct. 27.

Prediction: Coca-Cola stock is going to soar after Oct. 27. If investors are worried about an AI bubble, a reliable stock like Coca-Cola could be a perfect fit. Key points. * Coca-Cola is proving that its beverage line is growing in popularity. * The company's global strategy delivers results. * Motley Fool Issues Rare "Total Conviction" Buy Alert" Coca-Cola (KO -2.76%) has been around for a long time - 140 years - and is about as familiar as it gets. It's a classic blue chip stock, providing stability, reliable profits, and even a great dividend. Those are traits that investors appreciate, but they're nothing that generates a jaw-dropping moment. But these are also interesting times - there are concerns that the artificial intelligence (AI) market is developing an unsustainable bubble, and investors may start looking for safe, reliable picks for some safety. The global beverage giant will report third-quarter earnings on Oct. 27, and I think the stage is set for Coca-Cola to remind investors that there's nothing wrong with bubbles - as long as they're in carbonated drinks that are loved around the world. Coca-Cola stock trades up about 33% so far this year, and after raising its full-year guidance in July, I think another strong earnings report could send Coca-Cola stock higher. Coca-Cola's business is picking up steam. Coca-Cola is proving that its line of beverages, which includes soft drinks, coffee, tea, sports drinks, water, dairy products, and juices, is growing in popularity - and adding to the company's bottom line. In the second quarter, Coca-Cola reported $13.4 billion in revenue, up 7% from a year ago. And global unit case volume, a measure of beverage sales, increased by 5%. In short, consumers are actually buying more products, rather than the company simply charging more for the same amount of soda. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume increased 16%, while sports drinks, water, and tea all recorded gains. The company also gained market share in the global nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverage market. Those results helped Coca-Cola record adjusted earnings per share of $0.97, up 11% from a year ago. KO - Coca-Cola. $92.71 -$2.63 (-2.76%) NYSE · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/23/26 KO · YTD +36.73% Key data points. Market cap $410.21B Day's range $92.64 - $95.05 52wk range $67.27 - $95.37 Volume 18.9M Avg volume 15.9M Gross margin 61.95% Dividend yield 2.20% The global strategy delivers results. Coca-Cola has another advantage that investors shouldn't overlook - its international distribution network. In Q2, it used the FIFA World Cup to promote its brands in more than 180 markets. Coca-Cola says the campaign contributed to 5% volume growth for its flagship brand and 8% for Powerade. It's also adapting products to local preferences, including lemon-flavored Sprite+Tea in China and expanding Coca-Cola Zero into additional international markets. Unit case volume was up 8% in Asia Pacific during the second quarter, while North America and Latin America were both up 3%. Expect another strong quarter. Coca-Cola raised its full-year outlook after reporting second-quarter earnings. Management forecast organic revenue growth of 5% and adjusted EPS growth of 9% to 10%, up from its previous range of 8% to 9%. The company also increased its projected free cash flow to $12.4 billion. Coca-Cola has spent decades building a global distribution network and a portfolio of recognizable brands. Now it's using those advantages to sell more beverages, reach new consumers, and improve profitability. That combination could give investors another reason to buy the stock when Coca-Cola reports on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Is Coca-Cola a smart long-term play. Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Coca-Cola wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of its recommendation, you'd have $361,596!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of its recommendation, you'd have $1,303,935!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 910% - a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. *Stock Advisor returns as of October 23, 2026.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 19th, 2026
Five low-beta dividend stocks: Pfizer yields 5.83%, Coca-Cola raises payout since 1999

Five defensive dividend stocks offer income with less volatility than the broader market, according to a 24/7 Wall St. analysis. All five have a beta well below 1, meaning they have historically moved less than the market. Pfizer leads with a forward yield of 5.83% at $29.49 a share. AT&T yields 4.77% at $23.27, and its $1.11 dividend uses about 42% of 2026 free cash flow guidance of $18B+. Debt of $144B is its main risk. Dominion Energy yields 4.24%, while Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive each yield 2.27%. Coca-Cola has raised its dividend every year since 1999, and Colgate's next ex-dividend date is October 20, 2026.