Coke names Africa director to fight trade barriers
Coca-Cola has appointed a public affairs and comms director for Africa as it battles against product taxation and trade barriers between African countries.
As well as representing Coke on regulatory issues, Muthien will oversee the CSR programmes of the Coca-Cola Foundation in Africa, which partners healthcare organisations to provide HIV/Aids education and counselling.
'We are the largest consumer products company in Africa as well as the largest private sector employer,' said Coca-Cola Africa senior comms manager Andrew Morrison. He added that the company generated revenues in excess of one per cent of Africa's GDP and employed 60,000 people across the continent.
Muthien replaces Robert Ahomka Lindsay, who has returned to his native Ghana, and reports to Alex Cummings, president and COO for Africa.
She has been at mobile operator MTN for the past five years. During that time she established The MTN Foundation, which sponsors community projects aimed at promoting science and technology, arts and culture. It has 410,000 subscribers in South Africa.
Coca-Cola uses Burson-Marsteller, Africapractice and Consolidated Communications for CSR, comms and PA work in Africa.
