Donald Raymond Keough

Life & Legacy

Donald Raymond Keough (September 4, 1926 – February 24, 2015) was an American businessman and chairman of the Board of Allen & Company LLC, a New York investment banking firm. He was elected to that position in April 1993.
Keough retired as president, chief operating officer and a director of The Coca-Cola Company in April 1993, positions he had held since early 1981; his tenure with the company began in 1950. From 1986 to 1993 he served as chairman of the Board of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., the world's largest bottling system. From 1985 to 1989 he also served as Chairman of Columbia Pictures, Inc., before it was acquired by Sony, Inc.
Keough is probably best known for his major role in promoting the infamous reformulation of Coca-Cola, "New Coke" in April, 1985. He was largely responsible for convincing Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta to bring back the original Coca-Cola less than three months later, amidst a firestorm of negative consumer backlash.
Keough was on the Boards of IAC/InterActiveCorp, Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, Berkshire Hathaway and The Coca-Cola Company, to which he was elected in February 2004. In addition, he served for many years as a member of the Boards of McDonald's Corporation, The Washington Post Company, H. J. Heinz Company, Convera Corporation and The Home Depot.
He was chairman emeritus of the board of trustees and a Life Trustee of the University of Notre Dame. He was also a trustee of several other educational, charitable and civic organizations.