Paul Austin was working at the New York law firm of Larkin, Rathbone & Perry when he joined the legal department at Coca-Cola in 1949.
Austin began in Chicago where he supervised the buying of bottling plants.
He spent five months working at various positions in the plant and as a route salesman.
To Austin, this was a path to success in the business.

In Chicago, Austin met Jeane Weed, who was working for Coca-Cola as a secretary.
They married in July 1950 and had two sons.

In 1950 Austin was named assistant to the president of the Coca-Cola Export Corporation.
In 1954 Austin moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to oversee Coca-Cola's operations in Africa, serving as vice president of the export unit.
In 1958 Austin returned to Georgia and was named executive vice president of the Coca-Cola Export Corporation, then president in 1959.
 In May 1961 Austin was elected executive vice president of The Coca-Cola Company.
Paul Austin was working at the New York law firm of Larkin, Rathbone & Perry when he joined the legal department at Coca-Cola in 1949. Austin began in Chicago where he supervised the buying of bottling plants. He spent five months working at various positions in the plant and as a route salesman. To Austin, this was a path to success in the business.
In Chicago, Austin met Jeane Weed, who was working for Coca-Cola as a secretary. They married in July 1950 and had two sons.
In 1950 Austin was named assistant to the president of the Coca-Cola Export Corporation. In 1954 Austin moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to oversee Coca-Cola's operations in Africa, serving as vice president of the export unit. In 1958 Austin returned to Georgia and was named executive vice president of the Coca-Cola Export Corporation, then president in 1959.  In May 1961 Austin was elected executive vice president of The Coca-Cola Company.
J. Paul Austin