With extensive experience in the beverage industry, most of it with The Coca-Cola Company, Ilan was appointed Marketing and Commercial Leadership Director for Coca-Cola South Africa in July 2007. In the six months leading up to his appointment, he held a senior commercial position with the Eastern Cape-based bottling company, Coca-Cola SABCO.

His Coca-Cola credentials include roles such as Vice President and General Manager for Strategic Marketing and Innovation at Coca-Cola China, Director and Regional Manager for the Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Mongolia region of Coca-Cola China, Director for New Beverages for Coca-Cola South East and West Asia, Manager for Non-Carbonated Beverages for Coca-Cola Asia Pacific, and Customer Marketing Manager for 7-Eleven Asia Pacific.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing and Human Resources, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.