about jerry s. wilson

For over three decades, Jerry has established himself as a business leader who is committed to success through his focus on people development. This skill, combined with his expertise in strategic planning, brand management, customer value creation and operational execution, has delivered significant results throughout his extensive career in the field of consumer goods.

Jerry is a board elected senior vice president of The Coca-Cola Company, where he currently serves as President of the Global McDonald’s Division. In his executive role, he is responsible for enhancing this strategic alliance through leadership marketing and operational excellence. He leads a corporate center and cross-functional business units in USA, Canada, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe/Eurasia/Middle East/Africa. This worldwide responsibility spans 118 countries and over 31,000 restaurants. Jerry is also a member of the company’s senior leadership team which sets business strategy and operating goals.

At The Coca-Cola Company, Jerry serves as President of the Global McDonald’s Division. This worldwide responsibility spans 118 countries and over 31,000 restaurants.

During his twenty years with Coca-Cola, Jerry has risen from an area account executive, to regional management, to strategic brand and planning director, to Vice President of Western USA Foodservice. Prior to his current position, he served within the McDonald’s Division as Vice President of USA Operations, and Global Chief Operating Officer.

Over the years, Jerry has distinguished himself as a proven business leader, a strategist, a customer collaborator, and a people developer. Many people who have been part of his organization have progressed into larger roles and greater areas of responsibility. He takes great pride in helping others understand their gifts and developing them into successful leaders. This includes everything from conducting meaningful performance reviews, to plotting a long term career path.

Before his career with Coke, Jerry spent over eight years in the automobile industry with Volkswagen of America where he held a variety of positions. He joined the company as a distribution analyst, moved up to district sales manager, and then was developed through business management, sales training, marketing management and franchise management responsibilities. Jerry was then promoted to Brand Manager for the USA, where he was responsible for developing strategies while liaising with the franchise leadership and company worldwide headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Before his career with Coke, Jerry was developing brand strategies as Brand Manager for Volkswagen USA.

Fresh out of college, and before joining Volkswagen, Jerry gained invaluable retail experience by leading a fleet sales department of a nationally recognized Ford agency. Jerry earned his MBA in Marketing from Mercer University and his BA in Economics from the University of Georgia.

Jerry is happily married to his best friend Ginny and they have a daughter Abby who is currently a college student. All three of them enjoy supporting the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, where Jerry is a member of the Board of Directors.

Jerry is a liberal-minded person who believes everyone has something to offer to this world and that no book should be judged by its cover. He has mentored many people over the years and operates with an open door policy so that all voices may be heard. He also believes people should find their inner passion and play to this personal space rather than settle for what happens to come their way.

Jerry is honored to serve on the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors.

Jerry has worked his way up from “surviving” to “thriving” and is always mindful of his journey, the people who believed in him along the way, and the fragility of life. In the mere blink of an eye, life can take an unexpected turn. Therefore, Jerry tries to make the most of every single day, live with an optimistic attitude, and be humbly appreciative of what life brings.

Jerry has spent several years creating and perfecting the concept of Managing Brand YOU and the unique 7 step process. Now, with the collaboration of his co-author, Ira Blumenthal, these principles are readily accessible in book form.

He enjoys speaking publicly, to small or large audiences, on various topics ranging from personal motivation and development to creating customer alliances. He has consulted with clients regarding strategic planning and long term growth paths.