ConAgra Foods Inc. has named Gary Rodkin, a former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Beverages, as its new president and chief executive officer.

Rodkin succeeds Bruce Rohde, who announced earlier this year he wanted to leave the company.

Rodkin, 53, will take over on Oct. 1, when he also will be made a member of the board of directors.

Rodkin most recently was chairman and chief executive of PepsiCo Beverages and Foods North America. He joined PepsiCo in 1998 when the company acquired Tropicana, where he had been president for North America since 1995.

Rohde had been CEO of Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra for eight years.