BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – June 2, 2016 – Today, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., (“UNITED”), headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, proudly announces that, effective June 1, 2016, Melanie Clark will serve as Corporate Senior Director of Marketing for Coca-Cola UNITED.  Based in Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company since 2003, the headquarters for the West Region of Coca-Cola UNITED, Melanie has been responsible for all marketing efforts for the Region’s Louisiana & Mississippi territory, including expansions into North Louisiana and New Orleans markets in 2015.

“All of us at Coca-Cola UNITED are very excited that Melanie has accepted this role,“ said John H. Sherman, President & CEO of Coca-Cola UNITED. “She is one of the most accomplished marketing executives in the Coca-Cola System.  We are fortunate to have someone with her caliber of talent and experience at the helm of our marketing organization. As we continue to expand our franchise footprint, I am personally enthusiastic about the significant contributions Melanie and her team will add to our continued success.”

Under her leadership, the West Region Marketing team significantly expanded UNITED’s local marketing efforts and provided a model for UNITED’S accelerated territory expansion. Melanie led the development of UNITED’s first Category Management and Insights group, and instituted UNITED’s first Graphic Design and Regional Print Shops to support customized design and print production and local marketing initiatives. Throughout her distinguished career, Melanie has been responsible for leading the negotiations and relationships for many leading colleges and universities, which most recently included LSU, as well as creating brand building partnerships with local celebrities such as cookbook author Holly Clegg, and LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri.

Melanie is well respected within the beverage industry and in her community.  She serves on several industry leadership committees, including The Coca-Cola Company’s Brand Planning Advisory Group and Dr Pepper’s Bottler Marketing Committee.  She has been recognized as SME Marketer of the Year, Women in Media Marketing Director of the Year, and has received the National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Women Award, and the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Forty Under Forty Award.  Melanie has also served on the Board of Directors of multiple local non-profits including the Boys and Girls Club, the Baton Rouge Symphony, and has served as chairman of both the Board of Directors for Trinity Episcopal Day School and the Outreach Committee of St. James Episcopal Church.

Melanie and her husband, George, have two sons, Taylor and Colin.  She enjoys spending time with her family doing anything outdoors, including gardening, hiking, camping, and attending soccer games and track meets.

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the UNITED States and the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler employing more than 4,900 employees. Coca-Cola UNITED currently refreshes customers, consumers and communities in 35 territories across 7 southeastern states with sparkling and still brands for every occasion.  Engaged principally in the production, marketing and distribution of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani water, POWERADE, vitaminwater and many more under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company and other soft drink manufacturers.

With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, Coca-Cola UNITED 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 live and work. For more information, visit us at www.cocacolaunited.com