Beverage company, Coca-Cola India, took a significant step forward on Tuesday as they announced the appointment of Ajay Vijay Bathija as the Vice President of Franchise Operations for the Southwest Asia region.
Bathija will maintain his position in India and will be responsible for spearheading franchise operations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
Bathija initiated his professional journey with The Coca-Cola Company and has dedicated more than twenty years to thriving in various marketing and franchise capacities.
Commenting on the appointment, Sanket Ray, President, India, and Southwest Asia, said “With his understanding of business, and growth mindset, Ajay has a proven track record of taking business to newer heights. We are hopeful that with his astute business acumen and collaborative approach he will further the organization’s purpose in the Southwest Asia region.”
Bathija commenced his career with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCBPL) in the front line sales team. In 2005, he took on the role of Region Manager for the Mekong Delta Region at SabCo Vietnam. Subsequently, he returned to India and served as the Director of Marketing for colas. During this tenure, he played a crucial role in introducing Coca-Cola Zero sugar for the first time in the INSWA (India and Southwest Asia) markets.
From 2018 to 2020, Bathija served as the Country Manager for Bangladesh, collaborating closely with bottling partners to elevate Bangladesh among the top three markets for Coca-Cola TM within The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) globally.
Coca-Cola offers a wide range of brands, including Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Charged by Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Maaza, and the Minute Maid range of juices. The company collaborates with numerous local franchise bottling partners across the globe, amounting to around 200 bottling partners worldwide. Together, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners form what is known as the Coca-Cola system.
It’s important to note that The Coca-Cola Company typically does not have ownership, direct management, or control over the majority of local bottling companies. Instead, they operate in partnership with these local bottlers to ensure the widespread distribution and availability of their products.
