Inside Coca-Cola

Neville Isdell spent more than three decades at Coca-Cola, and when he stepped down as Chairman in 2009 he had helped restore the reputation of the world's biggest soft-drink maker after it had been badly damaged. This is his first book, and it traces that journey from his early life in Northern Ireland through postings in South Africa, Australia, the Philippines, Russia, Germany, India and Turkey.

Along the way Isdell managed serious public-relations crises in India and Turkey and helped open new markets in Russia, Eastern Europe, the Philippines and Africa. He also describes championing Muhtar Kent, today the Turkish-American chief executive, and explains how he tried to run the business with a strong sense of corporate responsibility.

The book is aimed at business readers and anyone curious about the brand, and it looks at how companies can market and govern themselves more ethically while still succeeding commercially. It mixes news-worthy events with personal anecdotes and practical lessons drawn from his career.