Tireless CEO finds time to do community work
Print Edition
Glen Walter, chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Bottling Investment Group China, can’t think of a better gift to give his family than to let them experience China.
As an eight-month resident of Shanghai, Walter is passionate about work, but happily pours the rest of his energy into a variety of social welfare activities in his spare time.
After graduating from Boston University, Walter started his career in the beverage industry as a member of the E&J Gallo Management Development Program in 1991, before joining InBev USA in 2003 as regional general manager, later being promoted to president and chief executive officer.
Before his current post in China, Walter has held a variety of roles within Coca-Cola over the past six years, including president and chief operating officer for Coca-Cola Refreshments, the operating unit responsible for nearly 90 percent of the company’s business in North America, and CCR’s vice president of regional sales.
Having lived in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Walter gives Shanghai high praise when he says it is “the most exciting and dynamic city” of them all.
“It’s fascinating to see people enjoy products proudly produced by my company here,” the Boston native tells Shanghai Daily. “I can feel the economy of the city and China is growing fast, people’s consumption growing as well, and it’s very inspiring to have the opportunity to be a part of this process.”
China is the third-largest market in the world for Coca-Cola and its mission is to make China the most profitable one. Walter and his team built a campaign called “The China Dream” to double the size of Coca-Cola’s business in the next five to six years, and has been building up a package of projects to accomplish its corporate social responsibility targets in the nation.
“Shanghai is a living example of a thriving city under the ‘China Dream’,” said Walter. “We can easily find rich cultural heritages in the city with a variety of museums and parks around us.”
Walter has participated in the Jinqiao 8k run, sponsored by his company, and similar events in the Jiangwan area in Yangpu District.
He has also contributed to building Hope Schools so children in impoverished rural areas can receive an education. He promotes healthy lifestyles and environmental protection with college students at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Guangxi University and others.
He sees work and life as inseparable parts that require balance. Through the sense of community he feels in Shanghai, Walter says he and his family feel at home here.
“My family has been amazed by China and the different culture here,” he says. “I join community activities together with my family. My kids are so proud that their dad is working in a great company which cares about community deeds.”
His three children are aged 9, 6 and 3. They are now taking kung fu classes.
As a newly elected board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Walter also spares some time to promote cultural exchanges between China and the United States.
“Although most of the time I have to speak to Chinese people through an interpreter, I can feel the shared passion and for this idea of fueling the dream for China,” he says.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
