Ortega who currently serves as president of the company’s central zone in Latin America, which includes Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean, replaces Bruno Pietracci, who has been named president of Coca-Cola’s Latin America operating unit. Both changes, according to an official communique from the beverage giant, take effect Feb. 1, 2023.
Ortega, a native of Spain, joined Coca-Cola in 2019 as vice president and general manager of the South Latin business unit. She was later named deputy president and then president of South Latin. In 2021, Ortega became president of the newly created central zone of the Latin America operating unit. She also serves as chair of the company’s Global Women’s Leadership Council. Prior to Coca-Cola, Ortega worked at SC Johnson for more than 14 years in various roles in Europe, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. She also worked at Endesa, a utility corporation that serves mainly Spain and Portugal.
Ortega has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad Pontificia Comillas and an MBA from the IESE Business School, both in Spain, along with participating in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
The new appointments follow the promotion of Henrique Braun to the post of President, International Development for Coca-Cola, taking office on Jan. 1, 2023. Ortega and Pietracci will report to Braun, who will be transitioning to the new position having served as president of Coca-Cola’s Latin America operating unit since 2020.
“I’m happy to see Luisa take her knowledge and global expertise to lead our operations in Africa. I’m also pleased to welcome Bruno back to his native Latin America, where he has extensive experience across a number of markets,” Braun said.
