MUMBAI: It’s been three months since Kasturi Paladhi joined Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages as head of external communications and social media, bringing fizz to the firm's public affairs, communications and sustainability team.

"Consider this my official 'better late than never' announcement!" Paladhi wrote  on social media, describing her first three months as "nothing short of a roller coaster ride" while "living the coke side of life."

The communications veteran appears particularly happy  about joining the integrated PACS team (public affairs, communications and sustainability) focused on building corporate reputation. She thanked her boss Himanshu Priyadarshi for the "jump start into the world of FMCG".

Paladhi brings a bottle full of experience to the role, having previously served as assistant vice president at Protean eGov Technologies and head of public relations at CoinSwitch. Her longest stint was at Xiaomi India, where she spent over three years leading PR and communications.

The communications pundit’s career has fizzed with variety. She previously spent brief periods at Black Shark, MSLGroup and two charitable organisations—Charities Aid Foundation India and Genesis Foundation. Her early career included a three-year stretch at Genesis Burson-Marsteller and a two-year gig as campus radio jock for Fever 104 FM.

With her postgraduate diploma in public relations from Xavier Institute of Communications and background in English literature from Miranda House, Paladhi appears well-equipped to keep Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages' messaging as refreshing as its beverages.