Presentation of Distinguished Performance Award for Corporate Citizenship to Neville Isdell, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola company
As a CED Trustee and a past- recipient of this Award, I am proud to join with CED to honor The Coca-Cola Company and Neville Isdell for their unwavering commitment to corporate leadership and social responsibility.
This is a well-deserved recognition for Coca-Cola.
Not only is Coca-Cola one of the world’s most recognized brands, it is known around the globe as a committed corporate citizen.
One of the company’s core values is to improve the communities where it operates. Partnering with local leaders, Coca-Cola strives to develop sustainable communities.
We believe in working diligently for good citizenship in the community. It is a distinct honor to be able to introduce Neville Isdell and Coca-Cola here this evening.
The Coca-Cola Company family can also take great pride in being recognized for their efforts in fostering a diverse work force for both Coke in particular and American companies in general. On May 10th, the
Coca-Cola Company was honored with the International Leadership Award by the Anti-Defamation League for its efforts to promote a culturally diverse work force and for offering equal opportunity to employees. Additionally, the Coca-Cola Company has been honored for its visionary diversity program by the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Hispanic Magazine, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, and by Diversity Inc. Magazine, among others. This recognition is well-deserved and is a result of the efforts of Neville Isdell and his leadership team at Coke.
A native of Ireland, Neville Isdell joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1966 with the local bottling company in Zambia. He then served Coca-Cola in various posts around the world, including South Africa, Australia, The Philippines, Germany, and the U.K.
A true philanthropist and corporate citizen from his days as a student in South Africa, Neville Isdell is chairman of the U.S.-Russia Business Council and a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Business Leaders Forum, the United States Council for International Business, and the Center for Strategic and International
Studies. He is also a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of the Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS. In Atlanta, he serves on the Board of Directors of SunTrust Banks, Inc. and the Commerce Club, and as a trustee of Emory University. He is a lifetime trustee of Pace Academy.
Coca-Cola and CED have also shared a long history of leadership engagement and a dedication to sustained economic growth and the betterment of society.
Together, we believe that business must take an active role in public policy to positively affect economic development and the long- term growth of our economy.
The advancement of our companies, employees, and the communities in which we operate is a principle to which Coca- Cola has been committed throughout its 108-year history.
It is my distinct honor to present The Coca- Cola Company and Neville Isdell with – Cola Company and Neville Isdell with CED’s 2006 Distinguished Performance Award for Corporate Citizenship.