Coca-Cola’s new CEO names key exec as he shuffles leadership team

Tapaswee Chandele, a 25-year veteran of Coca-Cola, was named as her replacement, taking the title of global chief people officer and reporting to Braun. The change is effective May 1.

It’s the latest leadership shuffle under Braun, who succeeded James Quincey on March 31. Earlier this year, the company named its first chief digital officer, as well as new and expanded roles for other executives.

Chang noted the CEO change in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

“With this transition, it’s the right time for me to step into the next chapter of my own career,” she said. Chang will serve as a senior adviser through the end of the year and will join the board of The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Prior to Coca-Cola, she led HR strategy for Arthur Blank’s AMB Group, including the launches of Atlanta United and the 2017 opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At Coca-Cola, the global chief people officer leads HR strategy across the enterprise. At the end of 2025, Coca-Cola had 65,900 employees, with about 8,900 in the United States, according to an annual report.

Coca-Cola has said it is reorganizing its workforce through 2026, an effort that included cutting 75 workers at its Atlanta headquarters earlier this year.

Credit: sou

Credit: sou

A native of India, Chandele, the incoming HR chief, joined Coca-Cola in 2001. She currently is a senior vice president and executive assistant to John Murphy, Coca-Cola’s president and chief financial officer.

Chandele previously was part of Chang’s leadership team, where she led Coca-Cola’s worldwide talent management strategy for about six years.

Among her civic roles, Chandele is on the board of directors for Agnes Scott College in Decatur.

“Developing strong successors is one of the most important responsibilities of leadership, and Tapaswee is ready for this moment,” Chang said on LinkedIn.