“I look forward to working with the US-ASEAN Business Council, which plays an important role in assisting American business in a vital part of the world,” said Kent.

ASEAN (Association of South East Nations) is an economic and political alliance of ten south-east Asia countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma (Myanmar). The population of the combined ASEAN countries is over 500 million. US exports to ASEAN have grown steadily over the last 10 years reaching $60.5 billion in 2007, comparable to US exports to China and Japan and four times US exports to India.

The US-ASEAN Business Council is a trade association composed of approximately 100 US-based companies, formed in 1984, to support US interests in ASEAN. Matthew Daley, a former US State Department official, serves as President of the Council, which is based in Washington, DC, and has offices in five south-east Asia countries. Kent replaces Roderick Hills, who has been serving as Acting Chairman and head of the search committee. Mr. Hills was Chairman of the Council from 1985-1989.

Muhtar Kent, 56, joined Coca-Cola in 1978. In 1985, he was appointed General Manager of Coca-Cola Turkey and Central Asia. From 1989 to 1995 he served as president of the East Central Europe Division and Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola International. He left The Coca-Cola Company in 1999, to become CEO of Efes Beverage Group. Mr. Kent rejoined The Coca-Cola Company in 2005, and was elected President and Chief Operating officer of the Company in December 2008. He became CEO on July 1, 2008.

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