The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Max Levchin, renowned tech entrepreneur and co-founder of PayPal, to its board of directors, signaling a strategic move to deepen its technological expertise amid accelerating digital transformation across the global beverage sector.

Levchin, 50, brings decades of experience in building and scaling technology-driven businesses. After co-founding Confinity — which became PayPal — he served as the company’s chief technology officer until its 2002 acquisition by eBay. He later founded Slide, acquired by Google, and most recently, Affirm, a publicly listed financial technology company offering installment payment solutions.

Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said the addition of Levchin strengthens the company’s ability to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Levchin’s appointment comes as Coca-Cola continues its transformation journey — one marked by investments in digital engagement, data analytics, and supply chain optimization, alongside its product portfolio evolution toward low- and no-sugar beverages and functional drinks.

Industry analysts view the move as part of Coca-Cola’s broader effort to leverage digital tools for deeper consumer insights, more efficient route-to-market strategies, and enhanced innovation cycles. Levchin’s background in fintech and digital platforms could play a pivotal role in shaping these initiatives.

Beyond his executive experience, Levchin has served on the boards of Yelp and Yahoo, underscoring his extensive ties to Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem. His appointment aligns Coca-Cola with the growing trend of global consumer goods companies integrating technology leadership at the board level to drive digital competitiveness.

In conjunction with the board announcement, Coca-Cola declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.51 per common share, payable December 15 to shareholders of record as of December 1 — reaffirming its commitment to shareholder returns alongside strategic investment in growth and innovation.