Robert Cornella’s path to the CFO office at Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) wasn’t meticulously planned; it was shaped by pivotal moments and unexpected opportunities. A significant milestone arrived with his appointment as CFO of Coca-Cola Germany, a defining chapter in his career.
Before his tenure in Germany, Cornella had already achieved several notable accomplishments. His journey began when he boldly relocated from the United States to Europe with E&Y, setting the stage for transformative experiences.
His elevation to CFO of Coca-Cola Germany validated his previous career decisions. “I was handed the keys to the kingdom,” he recalls. Still, Cornella had some nagging doubts and wondered whether he was ready for the position.
Read MoreFor his part, Cornella had emerged as an ideal candidate for the role due to his involvement in a multibillion-dollar transaction consolidating European bottlers. In time, his deep understanding of the different bottlers and their operations, along with his growing fluency in German, would allow him to navigate the complexities of the new position with confidence.
Still, Cornella’s story neither starts nor ends there. Another opportunity arose when Coca-Cola sought to formalize its finance function, particularly with regard to concentrate operations—which were generating more than 70% of revenue. Cornella was asked to be the lead in Ireland by establishing a finance team for EMEA’s commercial product supply. This was an unexpected challenge, but one that he embraced wholeheartedly.
Reflecting on his journey, Cornella acknowledges the wisdom of those who saw his potential long before he did. Each twist and turn offered opportunities for growth and learning, shaping him into the capable leader that he is known to be today.
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CFOTL: Tell us about RNDC … what does this company do, and what are its offerings today?
Cornella: We’re one of the nation’s leading wholesale alcoholic beverage distributors. We’re actually #2 in the U.S. We specialize in wine and spirits and operate in 40 states plus the District of Columbia. What certainly sets RNDC apart from our competitors is our excellence of service and our execution in the market. This is what we are known for. We strive to bring the best of everything to all of our supplier and retail partners.
To be really forthright about it, we’re known for doing what we say we’re going to do and executing. We want to be the most valuable partner for all of our suppliers and retailers within the value chain of alcohol distribution in the United States.
Read MoreI do want to mention that we are a family-owned company. We’re private, so we invest for the long term around here. We pride ourselves on having a very strong set of core values, which include honesty, professionalism, accountability, and doing the right thing. We feel that this certainly is what sets us apart, and we believe that our supplier and retailer partners recognize this as well.
Our #1 priority right now is to continue to evolve and digitize our finance function. Second, we need to continue to build within our team a better business awareness and totally optimal financial acumen in our field. We need to always strive to be better business partners with our operators. And then, third, we just need to allow these new structures that we have been putting into place to embed—so that we can start leverage the value and benefits of our scale.
“Three thoughts that have always served me well are these: • Don’t try to boil the ocean in one go. Pace yourself. • Give yourself the time to look, listen, and learn. • Consistency of execution trumps trying to get it right 100% of the time.” – Robert Cornella, CFO, RNDC
RNDC | www.rndc-usa.com | Atlanta, GA