Swire Coca-Cola USA: Jack Pelo / Rob Gehring
Jack Pelo, Swire Coca-Cola’s President and CEO for the past 24 years, will retire at the end of this year. Rob Gehring, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the President and CEO role beginning January 1, 2021.
When Pelo became President and CEO in 1996, Swire Coca-Cola, USA employed close to 1,600 people in the intermountain west.
Now, the company has 7,200 employees in 13 states that stretch between the Mexican and Canadian borders and from the Pacific Ocean to the plains of Nebraska.
“Under Pelo’s leadership, Swire Coca-Cola, USA has grown to become a top, data-driven manufacturer, distributor and seller of Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Monster Energy and Body Armor products in the US,” says the company.
Following his retirement, Pelo plans to spend time with his growing family.
Pelo will also continue to serve on the Board of Directors of Swire Pacific Holdings, the American Beverage Association, and the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association.
Incoming CEO Rob Gehring joined Swire Coca-Cola, USA in 2018.
He is a veteran in the Coca-Cola system and former Global Chief Sales Officer for The Hershey Company.
At The Coca-Cola Company, Gehring served as President of the Walmart Global Team leading the team managing the relationship with Walmart and Sam’s Club and the respective Coca-Cola bottlers in 28 countries. Gehring has held several other roles within the Coca-Cola system including Vice President of Sales in the Canadian and Western US business units.
Swire Coca-Cola, USA is a part of Swire Coca-Cola Limited, the fifth largest bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company by global volume. Swire Coca-Cola Limited itself is part of Swire Pacific Limited, a Hong Kong-based international conglomerate with a diversified portfolio of market leading businesses.
