The Board of Directors of The Coca‑Cola Company elects Dr. Rhona Applebaum as Vice President

ATLANTA, April 26, 2012 - The Board of Directors of The Coca‑Cola Company today elected Dr. Rhona Applebaum, Coca‑Cola's Chief Scientific and Regulatory Officer, as a Vice President of the Company. This election becomes effective immediately.

Dr. Applebaum leads The Coca‑Cola Company's Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) as well as the Company's Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness. As head of SRA, Dr. Applebaum is responsible for driving evidence-based research and education programs, advancing regulatory science strategies, communicating Company positions on SRA matters and promoting dialogue and understanding concerning products and ingredients. She recently concluded a three-year term as a member of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and concluded a two-year term as President of the International Life Sciences Institute of North America.

Prior to joining The Coca‑Cola Company in 2004, Dr. Applebaum was Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer for the National Food Processors Association (NFPA), where she was responsible for the overall direction of NFPA's three laboratory centers, the Office of Food Safety Programs and NFPA's Research Foundation.  

Dr. Applebaum previously held leadership positions with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, the American Cocoa Research Institute and the National Confectioners Association.  She holds a Bachelor's degree from Wilson College in history and biology, a Master's degree in nutrition and food science from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in food microbiology and food safety from the University of Wisconsin.

The Board of Directors today also declared a regular quarterly dividend of 51 cents per common share. The dividend is payable July 1, 2012, to shareowners of record as of June 15, 2012.

In February, the Board of Directors approved the Company's 50th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend 8.5 percent from 47 to 51 cents per share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.88 per share in 2011. The dividend reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term cash flow.

The July dividend will not be impacted by the recommended two-for-one stock split announced by the Company yesterday, which is subject to approval by the Company's shareowners.

About 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, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca‑Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 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. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, visit www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CocaColaCo or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.