Coca Cola said on Thursday it has appointed Thirumalai Krishnakumar as the new chief executive officer of the company's bottling arm, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages.

Krishnakumar would be taking over from Bill Schultz who has been shifted to the Philippines to head the company's operations there, Coca Cola India said.

"Krishnakumar assumed the role of chief operating Krishnakumar appointed CEO of Coca-Cola arm officer, HCCB (Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages), in 2007 and is credited with leading the company to significant improvements in operational execution, resulting in acceleration of profitable growth," the company said.

Krishnakumar would report to Steve Buffington, regional director (Bottling Investments Group) of The Coca-Cola Company.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd is a company-owned bottling arm of The Coca-Cola Company in India.

HCCB's serving CEO Bill Schultz would take over as CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines from August 1, the statement added.