ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today declared a regular quarterly dividend of 47 cents per common share. The dividend is payable Oct. 1, 2011, to shareowners of record as of Sept. 15, 2011.
In February, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s 49th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend approximately 7 percent from 44 to 47 cents per share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.88 per share, up from $1.76 per share in 2010. The dividend reflects the Board’s confidence in the Company’s long-term cash flow.
The Company returned $7.2 billion to shareowners in 2010, through $4.1 billion in dividends and $3.1 billion in share repurchases.
The Board today also elected Beatriz (“Bea”) Perez, Coca-Cola’s Chief Sustainability Officer, as Vice President of the Company.
Perez, who assumed her current role on July 1, oversees Coca-Cola’s integrated global sustainability initiatives in the areas of water, climate protection, packaging and recycling, and community; sets high-level goals and commitments; assesses and drives scaled investments; and stewards and tracks all global partnerships and key sustainability projects.
She joined the Company in 1996 as an Associate Brand Manager and has held various roles of increasing responsibility, including Director, NASCAR; Vice President, Sports and Entertainment for The Coca-Cola Company; Vice President, Sports and Entertainment for Coca-Cola North America; Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing for Coca-Cola North America; and most recently as Chief Marketing Officer – Coca-Cola North America.
Perez, 41, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland. She is the chair of the GRAMMY Foundation and sits on the boards of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, The Victory Junction Gang Camps founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty, and HSBC North America Holdings, Inc.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
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