Conrad W. Rafield III announced he will retire from the board of Birmingham’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., effective April 28. Rafield has served on the board since 1979 and is the company’s longest-serving director.
Rafield’s remarkable tenure
Rafield joined the company in 1969 working summer jobs at Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Co., later becoming a board member in 1979.
He has served as board chairman since 2023 and has been a key contributor to the company’s growth and legacy over nearly five decades.
New leadership at Coca-Cola United
John H. Sherman III has been elected to serve as the next board chairman, pending approval at the annual shareholders meeting in April.
Sherman, a former president and CEO, spent over 40 years in the Coca-Cola System and would become the first non-Johnson family member to hold the chairman position.
Company overview and legacy
During Sherman’s tenure as CEO, Coca-Cola United completed a multi-year expansion that more than tripled the company’s size.
Today, the Birmingham-based bottler operates over 50 facilities across the Southeast and employs more than 10,000 associates, continuing its long-standing presence in the beverage industry.
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