• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:01 PM

Muhtar Kent, who last week was elevated to president and COO of Coca-Cola, says that soda sales in the U.S. could rebound with a "winning culture" and "focus on what the consumer wants."

These are the same strategies that have helped trigger this year's soft-drink sales turnaround in Australia and parts of Western Europe. The successful launch in Australia and Great Britain of Coca-Cola Zero, a no-calorie drink that tastes much like regular Coca-Cola, is considered a model of that success.

Kent has headed Coke's international operations since the start of 2006. Sales of drinks sold under the Coca-Cola trademark in international markets rose 5% in the first three quarters of the year, the highest growth rate for the comparable periods since 1998.

While confirming that Coke is interested in acquisitions, Kent would not name possible targets. "Every time there is an opportunity, you will see us acting with speed and conviction," he says.

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