Home > Roberto Goizueta

Under the direction of Goizueta, investors saw The Coca-Cola Company become a top US corporation. He is attributed to invigorating The Company a with global vision. In the process, created more wealth for shareholders than any CEO in history.

Goizueta was a respected civic servant. A Cuban immigrant and owing to those humble roots, his efforts focused on funding education and enhancing the opportunities of in-need students.

1 Life

Roberto Goizueta was born into a prominent family in Havana, Cuba, where his grandfather owned a Cuban sugar refinery. He was the only son of Crispulo and Aida Goizueta.

In Havana, Goizueta attended a Jesuit secondary school and later studied for a year in the United States at the Cheshire Academy , a preparatory school in Connecticut. At Cheshire, Goizueta bettered his English skills by watching American movies.

He began studies at Yale UniversityYale University is a private university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third oldest American collegiate institution (or fourth, if St. John's College, Annapolis is included) and one of the most prestigious in the world. The Univer in 19481948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 1 Nationalisation of UK railways to form British Railways. Arab militants lay siege to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. First day of the Ital, earning a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. In 19531953 is a common year starting on Thursday (click on link for the calendar). Events January events January 7 President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. January 13 Marshal Josip Broz Tito chosen President of Yugosl, he returned to Cuba to work in his families business.

2 Career at The Coca-Cola Company

A year after returning to Cuba to work in his families business, replying to an anonymous want ad in his local newspaper, Goizueta found himself working for the Coca-Cola bottler in Cuba. A short time later he was promoted to Chief Technical Director of five Cuban bottling plants.

After defecting to the United States, Goizueta worked for The Coca-Cola Company in Miami. He was re-assigned to NassauNassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. It is the commercial and cultural centre of the Bahamas, and with a population of 180,000, its largest city. Located on New Providence island, Nassau has an attractive harbour and a busy port. The tropical climat, BahamasThe Commonwealth of The Bahamas is an independent English-speaking nation in the West Indies. An archipelago of 700 islands and cays (which are small islands), the Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida in the United States, north of Cu as a Chemist for the Caribbean region.

In 1964 he was moved to the headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of 35, he was became Vice President of Technical Research and Development. He remains the youngest person to hold this position at The Company. In 1975, he was promoted to lead the Legal and External Affairs department.

Robert Goizueta received a stunning appointment in 1979, to become President of The Coca-Cola Company after then officer J. Lucian Smith resigned. In March 1981, he assumed the chairmanship after Chairman Paul Austin retired.

Goizueta remained at the helm of The Coca-Cola Company for sixteen years until the time of his death, due to complications from lung cancer, in 1997.

During his tenure, the Coca-Cola brand became the most well-known trademark in the world. He introduced the Coke slogan, "Coke is it!". He launched the Diet Coke brand, as well as the ill-fated New Coke.

He also sat on the Board of Directors for various companies, including, SunTrust Banks, Inc., The Ford Motor Company, and The Eastman Kodak Company.