Coca-Cola says Luis Felipe Avellar will assume the role of president for its Africa operating unit, effective September 1. He currently leads the company’s Mexico operations within the Latin America unit.
Avellar succeeds Luisa Ortega, who will transition to her new role as president of Coca-Cola’s Europe operating unit. He will report directly to Henrique Braun, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Luis has had an outstanding career that includes extensive leadership across Latin America,” Braun said. “He also brings valuable experience from his previous tenure in Africa, and I’m excited to see him return to Johannesburg to help drive growth across the continent.”
About Luis Felipe Avellar
Avellar, 49, joined Coca-Cola in 2002 as a finance specialist in Brazil. He held several leadership roles before becoming general manager of the Brazil South Region in 2016.
In 2019, he was appointed Vice President and General Manager for Southern Africa, based in Johannesburg. He returned to Latin America in 2021 to lead Brazil and Southern Cone operations and was named president of Mexico operations in 2023.
Avellar began his career in 1998 in the finance department at SC Johnson in Brazil. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and an Executive MBA in Finance from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School in Spain.
