Linda Sewell joined Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED in 2016 as Director of Community Relations & Communications and was promoted to Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications in June 2019. She is responsible for government and community relations, corporate communications and charitable giving.
Linda is a veteran of almost four decades in the field of public affairs, community relations and corporate communications. She is also no stranger to global brands, having worked for Mercedes-Benz for more than 25 years. She was part of the site-selection and leadership team that chose Alabama as the site of the company’s first manufacturing location outside of Germany. As a part of the initial leadership team, she helped Mercedes-Benz establish the new company in the U.S., including building relationships in the community, creating the company’s charitable giving strategy and launching the first Mercedes sport utility vehicle to the worldwide media.
Prior to joining Coca-Cola UNITED, Linda was Vice President of External Affairs for Energen Corporation, a publicly-held oil company that was based in Alabama. In this role, she was head of Energen’s charitable Foundation and Political Action Committee, along with managing the company’s corporate communications and strategic planning activities.
Linda’s civic and community involvement has included serving on the executive committees of Heart Gallery Alabama and Red Mountain Theatre Company. In addition, she is on the Board of Visitors for the University of Alabama’s College of Communications. She has also served on the boards of many other civic and nonprofit organizations throughout Alabama, including McWane Science Center, Kid One Transport System, Aldridge Gardens, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Chambers of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama.
Linda’s passion and dedication are contagious and have been recognized by many she has served over the years. A few of the most recent honors she has been given are This is Alabama’s “2017 Women Who Shape the State;” the 2017 Karen Nomberg Volunteer of the Year from Heart Gallery Alabama; and 2016 Girl Scouts “Woman of Distinction.”
A native of New York City, she has a B.A. in Communications/Journalism from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Pace University in NY. Linda and her husband Steve have two teenage girls, Ana and Abby. They are members of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover, AL.
