Coca-Cola Amatil's beverage boss leaving

Barry O'Connell, managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil's Australian beverages division, is stepping down to return to Europe.

Coca Cola Amatil's managing director of Australian beverages is leaving to return to Europe. (AAP)

Coca-Cola Amatil's managing director of Australian beverages, Barry O'Connell, is leaving to return to Europe.

Mr O'Connell - who took over the reins in July 2014 after running the beverage group's New Zealand operations - has been with the local company four years and has worked at various Coca-Cola businesses across Europe for more than 20 years.

Peter McLoughlin, currently a Coca-Cola Amatil Australian beverages executive, will act in the MD role until a full internal and external search for a successor to Mr O'Connell is completed.