Monster Beverages has installed an executive of Coca-Cola on its board of directors, in a move that may smooth out relationships between the two companies.

James Dinkins, a senior vice president with Coca-Cola, will join the Monster board. He replaces Kathleen E. Ciaramello, who has served since June 2019. Dinkins worked for Coca-Cola from 1988 to 1999, then rejoined the company in 2002. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility in Coca-Cola North America, including chief retail sales officer and president of the Minute Maid business unit.

Coca-Cola owns an 18.5% stake in Monster Beverages, with which it has a distribution deal. Until last year, that had been its only foray into energy drinks. But that relationship was disrupted with the rollout of Coca-Cola Energy in the U.S. at the beginning of this year, after being introduced in England last year.