Summerfield Johnston Jr.
Summerfield Johnston Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1932 McDonald, Bradley County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, polo athlete |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises (1991–2001) |
Summerfield Johnston Jr. (born August 28, 1932), commonly referred to as Skey Johnston, is an American entrepreneur and accomplished polo athlete. He held the roles of chairman and chief executive officer at Coca-Cola Enterprises from 1991 through 2001.
Early life
Born in 1932, Summerfield Johnston Jr. grew up on the expansive 4,000-acre Bendabout Farm located in McDonald, Bradley County, Tennessee. His grandfather, James F. Johnston, established the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, recognized as the inaugural franchisee of Coca-Cola. His father, Summerfield Johnston Sr., was also involved in the family enterprise. Johnston Jr. completed his education at the University of Virginia, where he participated in polo during 1951.
Career
In 1959, Johnston became a member of the board for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. He orchestrated its merger with Coca-Cola Enterprises in 1991 and subsequently led the combined company as chairman and CEO until 2001. Additionally, he has served on the boards of SunTrust Banks and SunTrust Bank of Chattanooga, N.A., and contributes to the governance of both the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and the University of Chattanooga Foundation.
Polo
A left-handed player of polo, Johnston initiated matches on his family’s farm during the 1950s and founded what became known as the Chattanooga Polo Club, later renamed Bendabout Polo Club. He held a long-standing presidency at Gulfstream Polo Club in Lake Worth, Florida. His leadership roles within the United States Polo Association included vice president from 1979 to 1989, president between 1980 and 1984, and chairman from 1984 to 1988; he continues to serve as a governor-at-large for the organization. Johnston owns both the Flying H ranch in Big Horn, Wyoming—home to the Flying H Polo Club—and the Everglades Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. In recognition of his sportsmanship, he received the Hugo Dalmar Trophy in 1982 and was inducted into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in 2001. He is also a proponent for reinstating polo as an Olympic sport.
Personal life
His wife, Gil Johnston, originally from Britain, holds the position of Vice President at the Polo Training Foundation. Their late son, Summerfield Johnston III, was a distinguished polo player and served as Vice President at Coca-Cola Enterprises. Their daughter, Gillian Johnston, is likewise involved in polo and acts as a governor-at-large within the United States Polo Association.