Kampala, Uganda — Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has expanded its senior leadership development programme to cover more markets across the continent, bringing together 31 executives from 12 African countries in its first pan-African cohort.
The leaders graduated from the company’s EDGE Senior Leadership Acceleration Programme on November 4 in Bryanston, Johannesburg, marking the completion of its second generation.
The 2026 cohort brought together leaders from across the Coca-Cola system, including CCBA, The Coca-Cola Company, Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.
The expansion is intended to strengthen collaboration, leadership capabilities and knowledge-sharing across different markets as the beverage industry responds to changing consumer demands and increasingly complex business environments.
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Developed by CCBA in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, EDGE is designed to equip high-potential executives with the skills and experience needed to drive business growth, improve performance and create value.
Participants underwent training in strategy, value creation, business transformation, commercial decision-making, personal leadership and team management.
The programme combined classroom learning with business projects, mentoring and coaching, allowing participants to apply their knowledge to practical business challenges and opportunities.
Natasa Prodanovic, CCBA’s Chief People and Culture Officer, said investing in employees’ development was central to the company’s long-term growth ambitions.
“People are at the heart of everything we do, and programmes like EDGE demonstrate our commitment to investing in their growth and future success,” she said.
She said bringing together leaders from different companies within the Coca-Cola system had created opportunities for participants to exchange experiences, build professional relationships and strengthen collaboration across markets.
CCBA serves more than 840,000 customers across Africa, a market that requires leaders capable of navigating different consumer preferences, operating environments and business challenges.
The company said EDGE forms part of its wider strategy to develop future leaders and build the organisational capabilities required to sustain growth across its African operations.
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Participants were also required to present business projects aligned with the company’s strategic priorities as part of their graduation requirements, linking leadership development to practical business outcomes.