ATLANTA — James Dinkins has been tabbed by the Coca-Cola Co. to succeed J. Alexander “Sandy” Douglas as president of Coca-Cola North America.

James Dinkins

Coca-Cola said Monday that Dinkins will become Coca-Cola North America president effective Jan. 1, 2018, and report to corporate president and chief executive officer James Quincey. Plans call for Sandy Douglas to retire on March 1, 2018, to ensure a seamless transition, according to the beverage giant.

Dinkins, who started at Coca-Cola in 1988, currently serves as president of Minute Maid and chief retail sales officer for Coca-Cola North America (CCNA), a promoted to which he was promoted earlier this year.

“Our North American business has been thriving and is well-positioned for continued success,” Quincey said in a statement. “Sandy Douglas has done a tremendous job of leading CCNA to a strong position. Jim Dinkins is a highly experienced, respected executive who will lead Coca-Cola North America as it continues to evolve and grow.”

As president of the Minute Maid business unit, Dinkins leads a team that produces, sells, markets and distributes juices, natural health beverages, chilled tea and value-added dairy. He is also chief retail sales officer for CCNA, overseeing a team that manages strategic relationships with global and national customers across the U.S. grocery, mass, club, drug, value, convenience and e-commerce channels.

Previously, Dinkins served in a variety of leadership roles with Coca-Cola, including senior vice president of sales in national retail sales for select grocery, club and convenience retail customers. He was also president of the 7-Eleven global customer team.

“I am honored and humbled to lead CCNA during a time of great opportunity in our industry,” Dinkins commented. “I am excited about James’ vision for the company, and I am thankful to Sandy for his leadership in building a strong foundation for Coca-Cola North America.”

Douglas began his Coca-Cola career in 1988 as a district sales manager for the foodservice division of Coca-Cola USA and went on to hold positions of increasing responsibility. He was named vice president of Coca-Cola USA in 1994, taking over leadership of the Coca-Cola Enterprises Sales & Marketing Group. In 1998, his duties were broadened to include the entire North American field sales and marketing groups. He was appointed president of the North America retail division in 2000. Three years later, he was named senior vice president and chief customer officer of the Coca-Cola Co., where he led the customer and commercial leadership organization.

In 2006, Douglas was named president of the Coca-Cola North America Group and, in 2013, was tabbed as senior vice president and global chief customer officer. In 2015, he was elected as an executive vice president of the Coca-Cola Co. The company noted that, under Douglas’ leadership, CCNA has been the fastest-growing large consumer goods company in North America for three consecutive years.

“I am incredibly grateful to James Quincey and everyone within our North American system for giving me the opportunity to lead our business through a period of phenomenal change,” Douglas stated. “I feel incredibly positive about what lies ahead for our system because I have tremendous confidence in James, Jim Dinkins, our CCNA leadership team, our bottlers and our people throughout the United States and Canada.”