Citrus -- In a major executive reshuffling at PepsiCo, the soft drink maker named Brock Leach, 40, to be president and CEO of its Bradenton-based Tropicana Products unit. That move came after former Tropicana CEO Gary Rodkin, 47, was promoted to president and CEO of Pepsi-Cola North America. Leach, a 17-year veteran of PepsiCo's Frito-Lay unit, was most recently president of Frito-Lay Development in Plano, Texas.
Entertainment -- Gov. Jeb Bush named Walt Disney executive Rebecca Dirden Mattingly to be Florida Film Commissioner. Mattingly's appointment fills the leadership vacuum in the state's film industry that has existed since the executive director of the Florida Entertainment Industry Council, John Reitzammer, quit after the Florida Legislature withdrew funding from the state's public-private film partnership. Mattingly, 32, most recently manager for broadcast alliances for Walt Disney Attractions Marketing, was managing producer for Walt Disney Attractions Television from 1996 to 1998.
Universal Studios' top Orlando executive, Tom Williams, 52, moves up to be chairman and CEO of Universal Studios Recreation Group. He remains in Orlando. Williams, a 29-year Universal veteran, has been president and CEO of Universal Studios Escape since 1997 and previously was president and COO of Universal Studios Florida. In his new post, Williams will oversee Universal Studios theme parks and water parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Spain, China and, soon, Japan. Felix Mussenden, who first joined Universal in 1972, replaces Williams at Universal Studios Escape. Universal Studios is a unit of the Montreal-based Seagram Company Ltd.
Real Estate -- Financially troubled, Miami-based Atlantic Gulf Communities, the reorganized remains of General Development Corp., installed Richard Ackerman as CEO amidst speculation that the company plans to liquidate assets. J. Larry Rutherford, who has led the company since 1991, is out as president and CEO but remains with the company. Ackerman, 40, was president of Crocker Realty Trust, a Boca Raton real estate investment trust (REIT) that develops office and retail projects. Crocker Realty was formed in 1995 after the merger of Crocker Realty Investors and Apollo Real Estate Adviser's Southeast Realty Corp. Apollo is Atlantic Gulf's largest shareholder, with a 46% stake.
Retail -- It's been a tumultuous summer in the executive suite at Fort Lauderdale's AutoNation. In the latest move for the auto retailer and car rental company, AutoNation tapped Michael J. Jackson, 50, to be CEO. He replaces Steve Berrard, who announced his departure in June. Jackson joins AutoNation from Mercedes-Benz USA, where he was president and CEO. Before joining Mercedes, he was managing partner of Euro Motorcars in Bethesda, Md., a regional dealer of luxury automobiles.
Holiday RV Superstores in Orlando tapped Victor L. Hess, 51, to be COO. He joins Hardee McAlhaney, the new president and CEO, who took over the chain of recreational vehicle dealerships in June when investment firm Atlas Recreational Holdings acquired a majority stake from company founders, Newton and Joanne Kindlund.
Technology -- Pace Micro Technology, Europe's largest manufacturer of digital set-top boxes for televisions, named Neil Gaydon, 39, to be president of the Americas. He will be based at Pace Micro's recently opened Boca Raton office, which serves North and South America. Pace Micro, headquartered in Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, operates in 80 countries.
Obituary -- Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines and billionaire philanthropist, died of cardiac arrest in Tel Aviv on October 1. He was 75. Born in Israel, Arison moved to New York in the 1950s and to Miami in the late 1960s. In addition to founding Carnival, Arison was one of the original partners of the Miami Heat basketball team and was an active arts supporter. In 1990, he moved back to Israel where he set up Arison Investments to start and fund high-tech and real estate companies.