International Business Person of the Year (USA) - 2009


Irial Finan CEO, Executive Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company; President, Bottling Investments and Supply Chain
Irial Finan is Executive Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company and President of Bottling Investments and Supply Chain.  He is responsible for managing a multi-billion dollar internal Bottling business, which has operations in 5 continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia), with revenues of $9 billion and employs in excess of 80,000 people.  Additionally, he is responsible for stewarding The Company’s Equity Investments and leading Supply Chain.  
Irial has 27 years experience in The Coca-Cola System. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola HBC, during which time he managed the merger integration of Coca-Cola Beverages plc and Hellenic Bottling SA, and led the combined company's operations in 26 countries.
From 1995 to 1999, he was managing director of Molino Beverages, with responsibility for expanding markets, including the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Moldova, Russia and Nigeria.  Prior to that role, Irial worked in several markets across Europe.  From 1991 to 1993 he served as managing director of Coca-Cola Bottlers Ulster, Ltd., based in Belfast.  He was finance director, Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland, Ltd., based in Dublin from 1984 to 1990.
Irial serves on the boards of directors of Coca-Cola Amatil, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Coca-Cola HBC, and the Supervisory Board of CCE AG.  He also serves as a non-executive director for Co-operation Ireland and Galway University Foundation in Dublin.
Irial holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from National University of Ireland in Galway and is an Associate (later Fellow) of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants.

He and his wife, Deirdre, have two daughters, Ciara and Roisin.

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