Coca-Cola boss takes four-month medical leave

Chief financial officer Michalis Imellos will serve as acting ceo during Lois’s absence. Lois will still stay involved with the business and will remain a member of the board of directors.

Commenting on his leave, Lois said: “It is in the best interest of both Coca-Cola HBC and myself that I take this time to focus on my health, while Michalis and the rest of our strong leadership team continue to execute our strategy.​

‘Continue to execute our strategy’​

“I am committed to continue being involved in the business during my leave and I plan to return after completing my treatment.”​

Coca-Cola HBC’s chairman of the board of directors Anastassis David supported Lois’s request to take leave and wished him a quick recovery.

“The board has full confidence in the excellent management team that Dimitris has built,”​ David added. “Michalis and the team are well equipped to continue driving the company’s strategy and manage day-to-day operations.”​

Imellos joined Coca-Cola HBC in 2008 as region finance director responsible for several of Coca-Cola HBC’s markets, including Greece, Cyprus and Nigeria. He was appointed chief financial officer in 2012.

Senior management positions​

Prior to joining Coca-Cola HBC, Imellos served in a number of senior management positions with office supplier Xerox over 11 years, including mergers and acquisitions director, office division finance director and office division field controller.

Coca-Cola HBC is one of the Coca-Cola Company’s largest bottlers, with sales of more than 1M unit cases in the first half of the 2016/17 financial year.

Meanwhile, last month, Mondelēz International’s new ceo and the resignation of 2 Sisters’ meat boss led our last gallery​ of people moving to new food and drink jobs.

If you’re looking to take the next step in your food and drink career, check out the latest vacancies at FoodManJobs. ​