ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the Company's 53rd consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend 8 percent from 30.5 cents to 33 cents per common share. This is equivalent to an annual dividend of $1.32 per share, up from $1.22 per share in 2014. The first quarterly dividend is payable April 1, 2015, to shareowners of record as of March 16, 2015.
The increase reflects the Board's confidence in the Company's long-term cash flow. The Coca-Cola Company returned $5.4 billion in dividends to shareowners in 2014, bringing to $23.3 billion the amount returned to shareowners through dividends since Jan. 1, 2010.
The Board today also elected Marcos de Quinto, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), as an Executive Vice President of the Company. His election is effective immediately.
De Quinto became the Company’s CMO on Jan. 1, 2015, after serving for 14 years as President of Coca-Cola’s Iberia Business Unit, which covers Spain and Portugal.
De Quinto joined the Company in 1982 in the marketing department of Coca-Cola Spain. During his career at the Company, he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including district manager, distribution manager, and distribution and merchandising manager. From 1992 to 1995, de Quinto served as division marketing manager, Coca-Cola Southeast and West Asia. He served as marketing director of the German Division from 1995 to 1996, after which he became regional manager, Coca-Cola Spain. In January 2000, de Quinto became President of the Iberia Business Unit. He also served as Vice President of the Company’s Europe Group.
De Quinto earned an economics degree from Complutense University of Madrid and an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid.
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, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, POWERADE, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia, Dasani, FUZE TEA 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 1.9 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 associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
