New Planning and Insight Chief for Coke UK

In the UK, Coca Cola has hired Bhawani Singh Shekhawat for its newly created role of Director - Strategy, Planning and Insights.

Shekhawat joins from Reckitt Benckiser where he worked as Global Director - Best Practices. For the 13 years prior to this, he held numerous senior management roles at Nielsen, including European Director (Head Consumer/Customised Research), Managing Director - GCC Region, Managing Director - Gulf Countries and Managing Director - Egypt.

His specialisms include retail tracking, panels, shopper research, consumer qual and quant as well as STMs.

In his new London-based position, Shekhawat will provide strategic direction to the portfolio of Coca-Cola brands, while leading the planning function.

The Coca-Cola brand, which was created in 1886 by Dr John S Pemberton, first arrived in Britain in 1900. The firm is now the world's largest beverage company, with more than 450 sparkling and still brands of drinks in its portfolio.

Web site: www.coca-cola.co.uk .