John Ustas new CEO of Coca Cola India

Coca Cola today appointed John Ustas as CEO of its bottling operations in its Indian subsidiary amid reports that the company's India president Sanjeev Gupta may quit in protest.

According to an announcement by the Atlanta-based company, Ustas has been given charge of the company-owned bottling operations (CBO) in India effective 1 July.

Ustas will replace Vipul Sourabh who will work with John "Over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition," the announcement said.

Following the transition, Sourabh will move to another assignment within Coke's international bottling system.

When contacted Guptasaid, "As of now I have not resigned and I cannot comment about the future."

Sources in the know, however, say that Gupta might put in his papers any day owing to differences with the new management and its future business strategies.

Coca Cola India division comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Franchisees as well as bottling operations in India.