Beginning with a stint in Indonesia in the 1970s, the Australian went on to develop Coca-Cola's business in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Japan. At the time he was tapped for the company's top job, he was running the entire region, in addition to Africa and the Middle East. Correspondent Joanna Slater asked Daft how his Asian experience would influence his new role. If there's one thing I've learned above all in the more than 20 years I've spent with Coca-Cola in Asia, it's that as a company we must think locally and act locally. No one drinks a Coke globally.
Local people get thirsty, go to their local retailer, and buy locally made beverages.
The way we're structured has to recognize the essentially local nature of our business. We used to make TV commercials in Atlanta for China. That's not appropriate. Accordingly, we're now placing decision-making and responsibility closer to the front lines. We've given local managers the authority to make decisions about products, advertising and other functions that were previously controlled from Atlanta.