He attended New Holland Elementary School, where he met Kay Grindle in the third grade.
In 1979, Ivester joined Coca-Cola as assistant controller and director of corporate auditing, and in 1981 he became the youngest vice president in the company's history.
Ivester was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Coca-Cola Company on October 23, 1997.
[4] In 1996 Ivester was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.
Ivester contributes to the University of Georgia and its Terry College of Business as Executive-at-Large through the "Deer Run Fellows" program.