NEW CEO TO FOCUS ON REDUCING SUGAR, CALORIE COUNTS

Coca- Cola CEO Muhtar Kent will step down from that role next year and be succeeded by the company’s No. 2 executive, at a time when people are drinking less sugary soda including its flagship Coke drink. Chief operating officer James Quincey, pictured, long expected to become the next CEO, will take over leadership of the world’s largest beverage maker on May 1. Kent will remain as chairman of the board. Quincey, who’s worked at Coca- Cola for about two decades, has led its drive to cut down the sugar in its drinks and said Friday that he’ll continue to do that as CEO. He also said he’ll keep pushing for more low- calorie beverages and for offering soda in smaller cans and bottles. The Atlanta-based company has been diversifying its drinks to try to adapt to changing tastes.