Turkish Coca-Cola bottler Coca-Cola İçecek (CCI) has announced a leadership transition that will see current chief operating officer, Ahmet Kürşad Ertin, assume the role of chief executive officer from 1 July 2026.

The decision was approved by CCI’s Board of Directors on 3 March, following current CEO Karim Yahi’s decision to step down and relocate to the United States after nearly three years with the company.

Yahi joined the bottling group in March 2023 as deputy CEO and was appointed CEO later that year in September. During his tenure, he brought more than two decades of experience from across the global Coca-Cola system and led the company through a period of operational and regional development.

CCI has opted for an internal succession, appointing Ertin, a long-time company executive with more than 25 years of experience within the organisation.

Ertin began his career at CCI in 1998 in the commercial department, and has since held a series of leadership roles across the company’s international footprint. He was appointed chief operating officer at the group office in January 2025 and will now step into the CEO position next year.

The leadership transition comes at a time when CCI continues to expand across emerging markets. The company operates in 12 countries spanning Türkiye, Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia, producing and distributing beverages from The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Energy.

With more than 10,000 employees, CCI runs 36 bottling plants and three fruit-processing facilities, serving a population base of roughly 600 million people. Its portfolio extends beyond carbonated soft drinks to include juices, water, sports drinks, iced teas, coffee and energy drinks.