RFID at the Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.3 billion servings each day.

 

Dr. Michael O. Okoroafor is the newly appointed Global Director, External Technology Acquisition for The Coca-Cola Company. In this role he leads the group responsible for Open Innovation strategies & execution for the Global R&D organization. Previously, he was Director, Packaging Technology Services at The Coca Cola Company. In that role, he led new packaging technologies for Foodservice, Design & Decoration and Packaging Lab Services for the Coca-Cola Company. In addition, he was responsible for managing Intellectual property, new ideas & technology opportunities for the Global Engineering R&D organization. He led the team that was responsible for leveraging consumer insights in bringing innovative packaging design and decoration to the marketplace.

 

Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Mike was the Associate Director, Research & Development for Optical Products at PPG Industries, Inc., where he directed the research team responsible for the development of new optical materials, coatings chemistry and process technologies in support of the Optical Products Business Group. Under his leadership, TrivexÔ, the world's first tri-performance lens material was commercialized. He also served as a member of the Optical Products Business Leadership team and in that role, provided overall strategic technical direction for the business in support of SBU goals and strategic growth initiatives.

 

Mike is a graduate of Executive Development Program at Kellogg Business School, Northwestern University. He also holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, a Masters in polymer chemistry from the University of Detroit, and a Ph.D in organic polymer chemistry from Michigan State University.

 

He holds 26 patents and has over 35 technical publications and is a contributing author to the "Handbook of Plastic Foams." He is a member of the American Chemical Society, Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Society of Vacuum Coaters.