Rod Kutemeier is the new general manager of Sunflower Broadband, succeeding Patrick Knorr, who in January became chief operating officer of Sunflower’s parent company, The World Company.

“Rod brings big-company experience combined with the small-company values that he has honed over the three years at Sunflower,” Knorr said. “He has the ability and background to keep Sunflower customer-focused and on the cutting edge of the industry.”

Kutemeier formerly served as director of customer support and marketing for Sunflower Broadband. He joined the company in 2005 as customer service manager.

Sunflower Broadband provides digital cable television, high-speed cable modem Internet access and local and long-distance telephone services to communities in northeast Kansas.

Sunflower Broadband and the Lawrence Journal-World are divisions of The World Company, a Lawrence-based news and media communications company.