Rohan Oza
Rohan Oza | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 2, 1971 |
| Alma mater | University of Nottingham University of Michigan |
| Occupation(s) | Former Chief Marketing Officer of Still Brands at The Coca-Cola Company Founder at Idea Merchants Capital Investor |
Rohan Oza (born October 2, 1971) is a British businessman and investor. He is known for his work with several major consumer brands, including Vita Coco, Bai Brands, and Vitaminwater. Oza appeared as a recurring guest on the reality TV show Shark Tank.[1]
Early life
[edit]Oza was born in Zambia in an ethnic Indian family.[2] He studied at Harrow School.[3] Oza went on to study manufacturing and industrial engineering at Nottingham University.[2] He pivoted to marketing and corporate strategy while at the University of Michigan, where he received his MBA.[2]
Career
[edit]Oza began his career in the town of Slough as the manufacturing manager behind Mars' M&M's.[3]
Oza got his start in marketing by advertising Snickers for Mars, Incorporated in Europe. He later was hired as a marketing manager for The Coca-Cola Company.[2]
He has been credited for revitalizing the Sprite brand by signing Kobe Bryant as a spokesperson.[2] Oza also worked with Andy Roddick, Michael Vick, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Jennifer Aniston, Gal Gadot, 50 Cent, Ne-Yo, Rihanna and Madonna as celebrity endorsements.[2][4]
He left Coca-Cola in 2002 to join Glacéau, most famous for their Vitaminwater brand.[2] In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau in an acquisition for $4.2 billion, expanding the company's non-carbonated portfolio.[5] Rohan was appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Coke's still brands, where he stayed until 2009.[2]
As an investor, Oza made an early bet alongside Justin Timberlake on Bai Brands and helped persuade the Dr Pepper Snapple Group to buy the company for $1.7 billion. Additionally, he has backed Smartwater, Bulletproof Coffee and Health-Ade Kombucha.[4][6]
Oza has also been a recurring guest “shark” for ABC’s Shark Tank. On Shark Tank, Oza invested $400,000 in what was then known as Mother Beverage, later rebranded Poppi soda, for a 25% equity investment. On March 17, 2025, PepsiCo announced acquisition of Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand created in Austin, TX for $1.95 billion.[7]
He serves as an advisor to Impact Network, a non-profit organization bringing quality education to rural Zambians.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "People". CAVU Consumer Partners. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h White, Ronald D. (September 13, 2015). "How I Made It: Entrepreneur Rohan Oza focuses on 'better for you' products". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Brinded, Lianna (November 6, 2015). "Meet the millionaire 'brand messiah' who went from working in a factory to having 50 Cent and Rihanna on speed dial". Business Insider. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ a b Benner, Katie (January 6, 2017). "He'd Like to Buy the World Something Other Than a Coke". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross; Martin, Andrew (May 26, 2007). "Coca-Cola Agrees to Buy Vitaminwater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Kombucha Maker Health-Ade Raises $7 Million". Fortune. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "PepsiCo to Acquire poppi". Pepsico (press release). Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "Rohan Oza Joins Impact Network as Special Advisor" (Press release). November 28, 2018.
- 1971 births
- Living people
- People educated at Harrow School
- American investors
- Ross School of Business alumni
- People from Livingstone, Zambia
- Alumni of the University of Nottingham
- Zimbabwean emigrants to the United States
- Zimbabwean people of Indian descent
- American people of Indian descent
- Shark Tank
- Coca-Cola people