DirecTV has named Michael White, vice chairman of PepsiCo, as its new president and chief executive.
White replaces Chase Carey, who left the satellite TV provider this summer to become News Corp.'s president and chief operating officer.
White will take over El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV Group Inc. in January and join its board of directors.
"This is an exciting time to be taking the reins at DIRECTV," White said in a release. "It's a great company with the best television service and a strong brand, offering plenty of opportunities and challenges and I can't wait to meet both head on.
The appointment was announced Wednesday by DirecTV chairman John Malone.
"After a very thorough search, we have found an exceptional leader with a sustained track record of success, profitably growing businesses and a reputation for making the impossible possible," Malone said in a statement that also thanked interim CEO Larry Hunter.
DirecTV has more than 18 million customers nationwide and another 6 million in Latin America.
