A dynamic leadership move: Coca-Cola India appoints Ajay Vijay Bathija as VP for Southwest Asia
New Delhi, July 26: Coca-Cola India has announced the appointment of Ajay Vijay Bathija as Vice President of Franchise Operations for Southwest Asia (SWA). Ajay brings with him a wealth of experience from his 24-year career with The Coca-Cola Company, encompassing a unique blend of marketing and franchise expertise.
Ajay's journey began in 1999 with the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCBPL) Front Line Sales team. Since then, he has steadily grown in the organisation, holding various roles and positions. Notably, he served as the Region Manager for the Mekong Delta Region at SabCo Vietnam in 2005, leading sales operations and route-to-market strategies to drive volumes.
Upon returning to India, Ajay served as Director of Marketing for Colas, spearheading the ground-breaking "Share a Coke" campaign and introducing Coca-Cola Zero sugar for the first time in the INSWA (India and Southwest Asia) markets. He played a key role in rejuvenating the ThumsUp brand through integrated marketing campaigns, resulting in heightened brand love.
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As the Country Manager for Bangladesh from 2018 to 2020, Ajay collaborated with Bottling Partners to position Bangladesh among the top 3 markets in Coca-Cola TM globally. In 2020, he took on the role of Senior Director - Front Line Marketing, aligning portfolio strategies, facilitating seamless commercial and marketing execution, and successfully launching the celebrated musical franchise 'Coke Studio' in Bangladesh. His innovative "Is Cooking" Coke with meals experience platform, particularly "Kolkata is Cooking," further enhanced Coca-Cola TM's brand love and consumer engagement.
Commenting on the appointment, Sanket Ray, President of India and Southwest Asia, expressed confidence in Ajay's business acumen and collaborative approach, expecting him to drive the organization's purpose in the Southwest Asia region.
Ajay holds a Masters in Marketing Management from NMIMS, Mumbai, and is a Commerce graduate from HR College of Commerce and Economics.
Coca-Cola India is one of the country's leading beverage companies, offering a wide range of high-quality and refreshing beverage options to consumers. Their beverage portfolio includes hydration, sports, sparkling, coffee, tea, nutrition, juice, and dairy-based products. The company's popular brands in India include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Maaza, Minute Maid, Schweppes, Smartwater, and Costa Coffee.
Coca-Cola India aims to positively impact people's lives, communities, and the planet through various initiatives, including water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable agriculture, and carbon emission reductions across its value chain. The company, along with its bottling partners, has a strong network of close to 4 million retail outlets, refreshing millions of consumers across the country.
Globally, together with its bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, contributing to economic opportunities in local communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.cocacolacompany.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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- With inputs from agencies
