Growth Strategy of Coca Cola
As delivered
Thank you, Alan, and good afternoon, everyone. What a great privilege it is to be in our nation's capital today to address the National Press Club.
I can't help but notice that a lot of folks are enjoying our beverages with your lunch today -- so let me just begin by thanking you for your business!
And President Obama, if you're listening by chance on Public Radio or watching live on C-span, I know from press reports that many of the soft drinks of choice in the White House are produced by Coca-Cola. That's a policy position I certainly endorse and appreciate.
I have been looking forward to this engagement at the Press Club for quite some time. As someone who has spent the vast majority of his career traveling to markets around the world for Coca-Cola, I have seen, first-hand, the correlation between the strength of a nation and the strength of its press.
That's no more so true than right here in America. In fact, you could say I owe my career to a strong American press.
Over 32 years ago, I was reading a newspaper in New York and stumbled upon a classified ad for an entry level position with The Coca-Cola Company. It looked intriguing, so I responded and sent in my resume. I'm glad I did -- I'm living proof that classified ads really do work!
When I first went to work for Coca-Cola in the late 70s, the mood in America was pretty somber and anxious. Fuel prices were spiking. A recession was draining our confidence. There was widespread fear that we were losing our global political and economic leadership. Many people feared that a surging Japan would cripple American industry, jobs and the U.S. economy. Even greater numbers of people were worried about their jobs being replaced by technology.
There were many striking parallels to the situation we find ourselves in today. But the system didn't collapse, did it? In fact, America got stronger... much stronger... and that's because this great nation did what it has always done best -- America
Thank you, Alan, and good afternoon, everyone. What a great privilege it is to be in our nation's capital today to address the National Press Club.
I can't help but notice that a lot of folks are enjoying our beverages with your lunch today -- so let me just begin by thanking you for your business!
And President Obama, if you're listening by chance on Public Radio or watching live on C-span, I know from press reports that many of the soft drinks of choice in the White House are produced by Coca-Cola. That's a policy position I certainly endorse and appreciate.
I have been looking forward to this engagement at the Press Club for quite some time. As someone who has spent the vast majority of his career traveling to markets around the world for Coca-Cola, I have seen, first-hand, the correlation between the strength of a nation and the strength of its press.
That's no more so true than right here in America. In fact, you could say I owe my career to a strong American press.
Over 32 years ago, I was reading a newspaper in New York and stumbled upon a classified ad for an entry level position with The Coca-Cola Company. It looked intriguing, so I responded and sent in my resume. I'm glad I did -- I'm living proof that classified ads really do work!
When I first went to work for Coca-Cola in the late 70s, the mood in America was pretty somber and anxious. Fuel prices were spiking. A recession was draining our confidence. There was widespread fear that we were losing our global political and economic leadership. Many people feared that a surging Japan would cripple American industry, jobs and the U.S. economy. Even greater numbers of people were worried about their jobs being replaced by technology.
There were many striking parallels to the situation we find ourselves in today. But the system didn't collapse, did it? In fact, America got stronger... much stronger... and that's because this great nation did what it has always done best -- America