US Chamber’s Brazil-US Business Council Appoints Coca-Cola Americas’ Steve Cahillane to Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber’s Brazil-U.S. Business Council (BUSBC) announced today the appointment of Steve Cahillane, president of Coca-Cola Americas, as vice chair of its Board of Directors. Cahillane joins Board Chairman Greg Page, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Cargill Incorporated.

“We are thrilled to have a leader of Steve’s caliber serve as our vice chair,” said Page. “2012 was an impressive year for the Brazil-U.S. Business Council. We hosted President Dilma Rousseff at the U.S. Chamber, led the largest and most ambitious BUSBC advocacy mission to Brasília yet, and achieved real gains in our advocacy work. Steve’s business acumen and strong track record of success will be a tremendous asset to us as we continue to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic and commercial relationship.”

Said Cahillane, “Given the positive atmosphere created by the reciprocal visits between Presidents Obama and Rousseff, this is the perfect time to advance the already strong relationship between the US and Brazil.  Indeed, as President Rousseff noted during her visit to Washington last spring, the opportunity is not just to enhance the relationship but to create a partnership for the 21st Century.  I look forward to working with Greg and the rest of the Board to contribute to this important effort.” 

Cahillane has more than 20 years of successful international beverage sales, marketing and distribution experience. He joined The Coca-Cola Company as president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR) in 2010. Prior to leading CCR, Cahillane was president of Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE) North American business. He joined CCE in 2007 as president of CCE’s Europe Group. Prior to joining CCE, Cahillane served as the chief executive for lnterbrew UK and Ireland, a division of InBev S.A., and as chief commercial officer of lnBev S.A. He joined lnBev in 1999, serving as vice president of U.S. Sales until 2001, when he was promoted to chief executive officer of Labatt USA.  In 1995, Cahillane founded State Street Brewing in Chicago, which he owned until 1997, when he sold the business and joined Coors Distribution Company as vice president and general manager.  He began his career as a sales representative for E&J Gallo Winery.

The Brazil-U.S. Business Council (BUSBC) is the premier business advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening the economic and commercial relationship between the two countries.  For a full list of BUSBC board members see here.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.