ATLANTA (April 1, 2007) – Dr. Maurice Arnaud has been named vice president and executive director of The Beverage Institute For Health & Wellness of The Coca-Cola Company.

Prior to joining The Beverage Institute, Dr. Arnaud held a number of research and leadership positions with Nestlé, including director of Nestlé's Water Institute. A recognized expert in hydration, mineral nutrition and caffeine metabolism, Dr. Arnaud has conducted original research and authored numerous research articles.

Dr. Arnaud holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Grenoble. He has served as President of the French Stable Isotope Society (FSIS) and spent a year on loan to the U.S. FDA’s Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Most recently he served as a leading nutrition expert for Nestlé's nutrition research programs and was nominated in the expert Committee of Additives, Aromas and Food processing Aids of the French Food Safety Agency (Afssa).

As vice president for The Beverage Institute, Arnaud reports to Dr. Rhona Applebaum, Vice President and Chief Scientific & Regulatory Officer for The Coca-Cola Company. Dr. Arnaud is responsible for all aspects of The Beverage Institute’s work, including setting strategic direction for the Institute’s research and communications initiatives.