Coca Cola Amatil combines chief HR and IT roles

We like being a bit different and the coming together of two high performing teams not only fits with our values but also our journeyChris Litchfield, Coca Cola Amatil

Graham Robertson has stepped up from CIO to general manager, people (HR) and technology (IS) at Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand.

Robertson has been with CCA since 2009 and was its CIO for over six years.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the new GM of HR along and a new name for two very important departments that will come together under one umbrella,” says Chris Litchfield, CCA managing director, in a statement.

He says Robertson has been managing both the HR and IS portfolios since the GM of HR left the company early this year.

“Graham is one of those executives who is multi-talented. One of the positive things about being a great leader and a great executive, is that you need a very diverse set of skills that can be applied across all functions. He has more than shown these skills over the last seven months,” Litchfield says.

“This decision might be a little bit different, but we like being a bit different at Coca-Cola Amatil and the coming together of two high performing teams not only fits with our values but also our journey.”

Litchfield says that creating a day-to-day culture of safety and engagement continues to be a high priority for Coca-Cola Amatil, accelerated by advanced technology and the best IT solutions to support the entire business.

Coca-Cola Amatil NZ has been voted one of the country’s best companies to work for. It has been listed as one of the select few companies to achieve the Aon Best Employer accreditation for 2016.

The company says its history of maintaining a positive working environment for its more than 1,000 staff, with high levels of employee engagement and a strong performance culture is set to continue under the leadership of Robertson.

I have worked in technology for some time and know what these talented people bring to the business and combining them with another talented group of people can only strengthen our capabilitiesGraham Robertson, Coca Cola Amatil NZ

Robertson says he is looking forward to the new challenges of this role and is particularly excited at being able to cross-pollinate ideas between both teams.

“This is a very exciting time and I feel privileged to lead teams who have already delivered outstanding results. I have worked in technology for some time and know what these talented people bring to the business and combining them with another talented group of people can only strengthen our capabilities,” he says.

CCA is the bottler and distributor of more than 250 beverage options, including Coca Cola, LP, Pump and Schweppes. It is also the distributor of alcohol options Magners Irish Cider, Stoke beer, Kronenbourg 1664 and Jim Beam. Amatil is also the bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola beverages.

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