THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW
“ We have earned a seat at the table for some of the company’ s most important strategic discussions, helping shape decisions that drive growth, competitiveness, and resilience”
Dan Coe CPO Coca-Cola
Planning for the‘ known unknowns’ Operating in more than 200 countries and territories, Coca-Cola must continually respond to geopolitical tensions, extreme weather and supply chain disruption.
For Dan, resilience begins well before a crisis emerges.“ Change and volatility have become our new normal,” he adds.“ Unexpected situations will continue to arise – it’ s not a question of if, but when and where.” Rather than reacting to disruption, Coca-Cola prepares for what the company calls the“ known unknowns”.
“ Planning up front for likely events is expected,” Dan explains.“ We need systems and processes that can flex quickly when needed, helping us maintain continuity of supply and price resilience.” Yet resilience is about more than processes.
“ Above all, I want our associates to feel supported, empowered and equipped to succeed in their roles, even under difficult circumstances.”
AI accelerates decisions, not replaces people Dan believes AI is transforming procurement by enabling faster, better-informed decisions rather than replacing human expertise.“ One key benefit is what used to take weeks of manual effort is now available instantly through our analytics capability,” he says.
24 August 2026