Douglas Ivester
Douglas Ivester | |
|---|---|
| Born | Melvin Douglas Ivester 1947 (age 78–79) New Holland, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | University of Georgia (BBA) |
| Known for | Chairman & CEO of The Coca-Cola Company (1997–2000) |
Melvin Douglas Ivester (born 1947)[1] is an American businessman. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company from 1997 to 2000.[2]
Early life
Ivester was born in New Holland, Georgia. He attended New Holland Elementary School, where he met Kay Grindle in the third grade. He grew up to marry her. He attended North Hall High School and went on to the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in accounting, graduating with honors in 1969 from the university's Terry College of Business.[3]
Career
Ivester began his career with the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst.[1]
In 1979, Ivester joined Coca-Cola as assistant controller and director of corporate auditing, and in 1981 he became the youngest vice president in the company's history. Two years later he was elected senior vice president of finance, and in 1985 he was elected CFO at the age of 37. Ivester was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company on October 23, 1997. Ivester received a retirement package estimated to be worth $166 million.[4] Ivester received the FIFA Order of Merit in 1996.[5]
Ivester serves on the board of directors of SunTrust Bank, now Truist Financial.[6]
In 1996, Ivester was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.[7]
In 1999, he earned a Horatio Alger Award for his achievements and pursuit of education despite adversity.[1]
In 2025, Ivester earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Georgia including for his notable support of the university, for his assistance to, and development of, "thousands" of students, and for his professional successes.[3]
Philanthropy
Ivester contributes to the University of Georgia and its Terry College of Business as Executive-at-Large through the "Deer Run Fellows" program.[8] He made a $20.5 million endowment to the University of Georgia's School of Nursing in April 2026, which will be named after his wife Victoria Kay Ivester.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 "M. DOUGLAS IVESTER". horatioalger.org. Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Hays, Constance L (18 February 2000). "Transition in the Chief Executive Post at Coca-Cola Comes Early". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- 1 2 Melancon, Merritt (December 15, 2025). "Doug Ivester earns honorary doctorate for six decades of support for Georgia students and UGA". terry.uga.edu. Terry College of Business. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Balsam, Steven. An Introduction to Executive Compensation, Academic Press, 2002, p. 271. Retrieved 1 October 2015
- ↑ "Anniversary with nine FIFA Order of Merit Awards". FIFA. August 8, 1996. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ↑ "Board of Directors". SunTrust Bank. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ↑ "THE EDISON ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Recognizing Transformative Legacies". edisonawards.com. Edison Awards. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Doug Ivester to direct UGA program Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct. 14, 2009.
- ↑ "'Spelhouse' gets big donation, and UGA's new nursing school gets namesake". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2026-05-05.