As the cola season begins, beverage majors are lining up their marketing plans and are hunting for the right people to drive growth. Taking the lead is Coca-Cola India, which has appointed Sangeeta Pendurkar as the company's vice-president (strategy). She will be responsible for the company's strategic planning initiatives and international trade business.

Sangeeta brings with her over 20 years of rich experience in marketing, sales and distribution across geographies and diverse sectors like fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and financial services.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola India, she was working as the chief marketing officer of HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd. At HSBC, she was leading a team of over 100 people and had successfully set up the entire marketing function with integrated product, marketing, e-channels, market research, business intelligence (analytics), brand and sponsorships functions.

Underlining the important role that Sangeeta will have at Coca-Cola India, Atul Singh, CEO of the company, says, "She will be a key resource who would help us realise the potential by leading our strategic planning function."

Sangeeta began her successful career with Hindustan Ciba-Geigy Ltd (currently Novartis India Ltd) as a management trainee way back in 1988 and in a span of eight years moved across various roles in market research, product development and marketing.

Her role at Coca-Cola will be challenging as the company gears up for the exciting summer haul.