
Muhtar Kent, 60, was born in New York, where his father was Turkish consul general. After finishing high school in Turkey in 1971, he studied economics at the University of Hull and for an MBA at Cass Business School in London. Kent joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978 and rose through the company via a variety of leadership positions in its US, Europe and Asia operations. After a stint with Efes Beverages Group from 1999, he returned to Coca-Cola in 2005, becoming chief executive in 2008 and chairman in 2009. He is active in the global business community and charities and serves on boards including Special Olympics International. He is married with two children and lives in Atlanta.