Douglas Ivester (born 1947) is an American businessman. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of

The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation founded in 1892, best known as the producer of Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company also manufactures, sells, and markets other non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, ...

from 1997 to 2000.

Early life

Melvin Douglas Ivester was born in 1947 in New Holland, Georgia. He attended New Holland Elementary School, where he met Kay Grindle in the third grade. He grew up to marry her. He attended North Hall High School and went on to the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

, where he earned a degree in accounting, graduating with honors in 1969.

Career

Ivester began his career with the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst. In 1979, Ivester joined Coca-Cola as assistant controller and director of corporate auditing, and in 1981 he became the youngest vice president in the company's history. Two years later he was elected senior vice president of finance, and in 1985 he was elected CFO at the age of 37. Ivester was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company on October 23, 1997. Ivester received a retirement package estimated to be worth $166 million. Ivester received the

FIFA Order of Merit The FIFA Order of Merit is the highest honour awarded by FIFA. The award is presented at the annual FIFA congress. It is normally awarded to people who are considered to have made a significant contribution to :association football. At FIFA's ce ...

in 1996. Ivester serves on the board of director of

SunTrust Banks SunTrust Banks, Inc. was an American bank holding company with SunTrust Bank as its largest subsidiary and assets of US$199 billion as of March 31, 2018. The bank's most direct corporate parent was established in 1891 in Atlanta, where it was h ...

. In 1996 Ivester was honored with an

Edison Achievement Award Edison Awards is an American company that runs an annual competition honoring excellence in innovation in a broad range of categories. Company The Edison Awards were established by the American Marketing Association in 1987 and has been an in ...

for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.

Philanthropy

Ivester contributes to the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business as Executive-at-Large through the "Deer Run Fellows" program.Doug Ivester to direct UGA program
''Atlanta Business Chronicle,'' Oct. 14, 2009.

References

External links

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Deer Run Fellows
Living people 1947 births People from Hall County, Georgia Terry College of Business alumni American chief executives of food industry companies American corporate directors Coca-Cola people 20th-century American businesspeople SunTrust Banks people {{US-business-bio-1940s-stub