Coca-Cola Names New Marketing Chief

Coca-Cola Co. named Chuck Fruit as its chief marketing officer, the latest move in a shuffling of the soft drink giant’s executive decks under new Chief Executive Neville Isdell.

Fruit, who joined the world’s largest soft drink maker in 1991 after a long stint at Anheuser-Busch Cos., replaces Daniel Palumbo, who had been with Coca-Cola for little more than a year.

Coca-Cola said Palumbo was leaving to pursue “other opportunities” but declined to provide other details.

Fruit, 57, who was responsible for developing worldwide media and sponsorship strategies and investments, takes over the high-profile marketing position at a time of considerable turbulence in Coca-Cola’s management ranks.

Shares of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola fell 15 cents to $51.02 on the NYSE.