Coke loses two senior marketing executives

Shripad Nadkarni, vice president, marketing, Coca-Cola India, has put in his papers..

Nadkarni, 40 plus year old, had joined the marketing division of Coca-Cola in 2000 from baby products maker Johnson & Johnson.

It is learnt that Nadkarni had been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and will be starting his own marketing consultancy outfit. Despite repeated attempts, Nadkarni was unavailable for comments. However, Coca-Cola India executives confirmed the development.

In another development, Sharda Agarwal, director - marketing of Coca-Cola India, has also put in her papers.

Again an ex-Johnson & Johnson person, Agarwal, too, will be a part of Nadkarni's new consulting company.

A Coca-Cola India spokesperson said, "Replacements for Nadkarni and Agarwal are yet to be decided. Nadkarni's term with the company will end towards the end of ruary as he will have to complete certain assignments and advertising campaigns."

For beverage companies, summer is their biggest season and business goals and campaigns are charted out during the beginning of the year.

The soft-spoken Maharashtrian is credited with the 'thanda' as well as 'paanch' (Rs 5) campaign, which did wonders for the Coca-Cola brand. In fact, it is one of the most successful marketing and promotional strategies ever used for brand building.

Nadkarni is a well -known figure in Mumbai's marketing and advertising circles from his many years at Johnson & Johnson, the company he joined after graduating from IIM Bangalore in 1983.

The company's affordability strategy of selling soft drinks at Rs 5 saw sales recording double digit growth rate.