The Coca-Cola Company has confirmed that Tapaswee Chandele will take the helm as global chief people officer starting 1 May. She replaces Lisa Chang who has spent seven years with the firm. This appointment brings a familiar face to the executive suite as Chandele has been a member of the company’s workforce since 2001.
Before this promotion, Chandele served as senior vice president and executive assistant to the President and Chief Financial Officer, John Murphy. Her career with the drinks giant began in India and included international stints in Türkiye and South Africa before she moved to the United States in 2017. Between 2019 and 2025, she managed the firm’s worldwide talent strategy as the senior vice president of global talent, development and HR system partnerships.
In her new capacity, Chandele will report directly to CEO Henrique Braun. Her academic background includes an MBA in human resources and industrial relations from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management. She also holds a Master of Science in biochemistry and clinical nutrition and a Bachelor of Science from Sophia College for Women in India. Beyond her corporate role, she sits on the boards of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Agnes Scott College.
Lisa Chang will not leave the company immediately. She is set to remain as a senior advisor until the end of 2026 and will continue her work on the board of The Coca-Cola Foundation. Chang joined the business in 2019 from AMB Group LLC where she oversaw HR strategy for major entities like the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC. During her time at AMB Group, she played a key role in the opening of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Chang’s previous experience also includes leadership roles at Equifax and Turner Broadcasting System. She currently serves on the board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The transition ensures that her expertise remains available to the firm during the handover period. This move highlights Coca-Cola’s focus on internal talent development and continuity within its global leadership team as it navigates a changing workforce landscape.
