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Vande Beek to Polish Coke’s Image

ATLANTA—Dirk Vande Beek, who ran vice president Dick Cheney’s campaign press office, has been named Coca-Cola Co.’s vice president of public relations. Vande Beek, formerly director of global public relations for the Hallib urton Co., crafted Cheney’s national image during the campaign. In that position, he successfully deflected a potential scandal centering around a $13 million stock option windfall tied to Cheney’s resignation as chairman of Halliburton. At Coke, Vande Beek will similarly try to re-establish the Atlanta-based firm’s image as a well-managed corporation.