Coca-Cola hires Rob Gehring from Monster Beverage to run its North American operations

Coca-Cola hires Rob Gehring from Monster Energy to run its North American operations Skip Navigation Markets Business Investing Tech Politics & Policy Video Watchlist Investing Club PRO Livestream Menu Key Points Rob Gehring, the head of Monster Beverage's Americas business, will leave to run Coca-Cola's North America unit. The move comes as Coke tries to maintain growth while U.S. consumers cut back on spending in the face of higher gas and grocery prices. Monster Beverage sales climbed 20% in the second quarter. In this article MNST KO Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT This view shows bottles of regular Coca-Cola soda displayed for sale on shelves at a Walmart store in Mexico City on October 27, 2025. Yuri Cortez | Afp | Getty Images Rob Gehring, the head of Monster Energy 's Americas business, will leave to run Coca-Cola 's North America unit, the companies said Friday. He will take over the position on Dec. 1. The move comes as Coke tries to maintain growth while U.S. consumers cut back on spending in the face of higher gas and grocery prices. Despite those dynamics, the beverage giant posted net sales growth of 7% in the second quarter, as volume — a key measure of demand — rose 3% in North America. Though Monster Energy parent Monster Beverage is considerably smaller than Coke, its sales have soared in part due to innovation in the energy drink space. The company reported net sales growth of 20% in its second quarter. Coke is also investing in developing new beverages beyond its core soda offerings, including refreshers and dirty sodas. Gehring, 59, took on his previous role at Monster in February after serving as chief growth officer since 2024. In a press release, Coke said he was "part of the leadership team that drove the company's growth agenda and modernized commercial capabilities." Before joining Monster, Gehring was CEO of Swire Coca-Cola USA, a major bottler of Coke products in the western U.S. Coke shares have climbed more than 25% this year, while Monster's stock has risen more than 12%. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.