Lidia is unveiled as new chief of Coca-Cola Ireland

Coca-Cola names Lidia Ponce de Leon as its new country manager for Ireland, replacing Amruta Vaidya, who takes charge of Coca-Cola in Romania

Lidia Ponce de Leon, country manager for Ireland with The Coca-Cola Company.

Soft drinks manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Lidia Ponce de Leon as its new country manager for Ireland.

She replaces Amruta Vaidya, who was recently appointed as country manager for Coca-Cola in Romania. She will be responsible for leading the growth of the company locally and for product marketing for the company’s portfolio of brands in Ireland.

Ms Ponce de Leon said: “I am proud to take on the role of country manager for Coca-Cola Ireland. Ireland is an important market for Coca-Cola, with a proud history, fantastic brands and strong relationships with our customers, partners and communities across the country. Ireland also plays a significant role within the company’s global operations.

“I’m looking forward to working with the talented team in Ireland and our bottling partner Coca-Cola HBC to build on that strong foundation. Together, we will continue to put consumers at the heart of what we do, grow our portfolio and bring innovative and memorable brand experiences to people across Ireland.” 

In her new role, Ms Ponce de Leon will work closely with Coca-Cola’s bottling partner, Coca-Cola HBC, to continue to drive sustainable growth across the island of Ireland, strengthen the company’s brand portfolio and deliver innovative experiences for consumers and customers.

Ms Ponce de Leon brings significant experience in brand development, business growth and franchise operations, with a multidisciplinary career spanning consumer brands, retail and hospitality.

She previously held a number of roles focused on brand expansion and business development in Spain. Within Coca-Cola, she was previously director of franchise operations in Ireland before returning to Spain, where she was most recently senior director of franchise operations.

The Coca-Cola system, comprising The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner Coca-Cola HBC, employs around 1,500 people across the island of Ireland.

Coca-Cola was named the most popular brand in Ireland for the 22nd year in a row in the recent Checkout Top 100 Brands for 2026, produced by Checkout Magazine. Lucozade took second place, with Tayto third.