Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Players - Dec. 2004

BANKING -- Thomas G. Kuntz, head of Atlanta-based SunTrust Banks' south Florida operations, will take over as CEO of SunTrust's Florida operations in January. Kuntz replaces George Koehn, who is retiring after 25 years with the company.

FINANCIAL SERVICES -- Jed B. Trosper has been named CFO of Tampa-based GunnAllen Financial. Trosper had been CEO of emerging markets at New York-based Spencer Trask, a venture capital firm.

MANUFACTURING -- Boca Raton-based Krane Products, which manufactures environmentally safe cleaning products, has named Ken Van Vranken president and CEO. Prior to joining Krane Products, Van Vranken led ePerformax, a call center firm in the Philippines.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES -- John G. Hall, CFO of Fort Lauderdale-based Precision Response Corp., which outsources customer care services, has been promoted to chairman and CEO. Hall replaces Thomas L. Cardella, who is resigning.

RESEARCH -- Shirley Pomponi has been promoted from vice president and director of research to president and CEO of Fort Pierce-based Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Pomponi replaces Richard Herman, who resigned.

RESTAURANTS -- Miami-based Burger King Corp. has named Cedric Burgher CFO. Burgher previously was vice president at Halliburton.

RETAIL -- Delray Beach-based Office Depot ousted chairman and CEO Bruce Nelson after disappointing Wall Street during his four-year tenure. Neil Austrian, a former COO of the NFL, will serve as interim chairman and CEO.

Tampa-based Tropical Sportswear COO Frank Maccarrone has resigned. The financially struggling company, which came close to filing for bankruptcy last year, is searching for a replacement.

SERVICES -- John R. Bowden has joined Miramar-based WillowCSN, which operates virtual call centers, as COO. Bowden has more than
27 years' experience in the call center industry,
including as a vice president for MCI Inc.

TECHNOLOGY -- Coral Gables-based MasTec, which installs cables for telecommunications and utility companies, has tapped C. Robert Campbell as CFO. Campbell had been CFO of North Carolina-based Timco Aviation Services.