Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC AG), one of the world’s biggest Coke bottlers and the parent company of the Nigerian Bottling Company (“NBC”) have announced the death of its long-serving CEO Dimitris Lois.

The company which is based in Zug, Switzerland said in a statement on Tuesday: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Dimitris’s death. It was a great privilege to know him personally and to work alongside him for so many years,” said Anastassis David, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coca‑Cola HBC. “Dimitris will always be remembered for his dedication to our people and for the values he stood for.”

Michalis Imellos will continue in the role of Acting CEO. Further announcements will be made in due course, Coca-Cola HBC said.

The company announced in September that Lois would be taking a leave of absence from the company to undergo treatment for a medical condition. In his absence, Michalis Imellos was appointed CEO in an acting capacity.

Lois joined Coca-Cola HBC in March 2007 from Frigoglass where he had risen to become Managing Director. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) at CCHBC in 2009 and CEO in 2011.

Coca-Cola HBC had 2016 revenue of $6.6bn. The company which has operations in 28 mostly European countries and Nigeria was founded in Athens, Greece in 1969. Its majority shareholders include Coca-Cola Company 23.3%, the Leventis family 23.38%, with the remainder of the shares on free float.