Coke Jolts Management Structure

Seeking its own caffeine jolt,

Coca-Cola

(KO) - Get Free Report

today said its president has resigned and the company is revamping its management structure.

To improve sales, the beverage giant is creating four units -- Americas, Asia, Europe/Africa and new business ventures -- whose chiefs will report directly to the company's CEO, Doug Daft. "As we enter the next phase of our company's growth, it is clear that our new business model demands a new management approach," Daft said in a press release announcing the changes. The plans don't create a role for Jack Stahl, who will step down as president after 20 years with Coke.

Coke has been on a rip announcing a series of deals, each intended to help the Atlanta-based beverage giant boost sales. It is teaming up with

Walt Disney

(DIS) - Get Free Report

to jointly market kids' beverages under the

Disney brand. It is working with

Warner Brothers

as the sole

global marketing partner for the upcoming Harry Potter movie. And it announced plans with

Procter & Gamble

(PG) - Get Free Report

for a

stand-alone company that will sell juices, juice-based drinks, and snacks.

At the end of January, Coke met earnings expectations for the fourth-quarter and predicted it would have a strong 2001. Today, it left its current financial guidance in place. The company is on the rebound from recent losses. In the fourth quarter of 1999, it lost $45 million, or 31 cents a share.

Coke closed at $52.55 on Friday, off its 52-week high of $64.