John Downs, public affairs veteran for Coke, will take office this summer, succeeding retiring longtime leader Larry Graham Downs Turning to the sweetened beverage industry for its next leader, the $13 million-revenue National Confectioners Association announced May 14 it has hired John Downs as president. The NCA statement said Downs will take the post this summer. Downs replaces President Larry Graham, who is retiring at the end of May after 22 years leading the group. (See Graham's road was sweet, but retirement will be sweeter) The new president comes from Coca-Cola, where he has worked since 1986, most recently as a senior adviser to the president of Coca-Cola… Read More