Steve Jones is a marketer, an operating executive with experience on three continents, and a leader of global organizations. He brings to clients a broad range of experience, from major corporations to entrepreneurial start ups, from local to global teams, and from the biggest to the smallest organizations.
Over more than 18 years at The Coca-Cola Company, Steve progressed from being Coca-Cola USA's senior brand manager of Diet Coke in the mid 1980's shortly after its introduction, to becoming the company's global Chief Marketing Officer and a member of Coke's Executive Committee from 2000-2003. Prior to being named CMO, he held key operating executive positions around the world including in Europe, as Region Manager of The Coca-Cola Company in the United Kingdom; in Asia Pacific, as President of Coca-Cola Japan (the company's largest contributor of operating income and lead new product development center); and in North America, as CEO of the Minute Maid Company, the world's largest juice company based in Houston, Texas.
As Coke's Chief Marketing Officer, Steve focused on innovative strategies to restore growth at the company's core-brand Coca-Cola, the worlds most recognized and valuable brand; crafted and championed the strategy of making The Coca-Cola Company a total beverage company through both organic development and acquisition; and rebuilt the skill and capability of the company's global marketing community.
Prior to joining Coke, Steve had various brand management assignments at Kimberly Clark including the North America launch team of Kleenex Huggies disposable diapers. His original career was as a political analyst/strategist and speech writer. A native of Canada, Steve earned his B.A. from the University of Toronto. In 2003 he co-founded Brand Ignition Group in Atlanta, which works with private equity funds to identify emerging high growth potential consumer products companies, participate in the due diligence process and design strategies for future growth. From 2006-2007, Steve served as President of Denneen & Company, a Boston based growth strategy consulting firm, where he returned in 2009 in his current capacity.
Steve is a member of the Board of Directors of Jones Soda (NASDAQ), Seattle, Washington, where he served as Chief Executive Officer in 2008-2009, and Lakeport Beverages (TSX), Toronto, Ontario. Previously, he served on the boards of the American Diabetes Association, the Association of National Advertisers, and Nestle Refreshment Partners.