NATION

Commodore International has chosen Thomas J. Rattigan to be president and chief operating officer.

Rattigan, who was recruited from Pepsico earlier this year, will take over day-to-day operation of the West Chester, Pa., company from the former president, Marshall F. Smith, who was named vice chairman of the board. Smith remains chief executive, Commodore said.

Rattigan, who was formerly president of Commodore’s North American operations, was also elected to the board of directors.

The moves, part of a restructuring that began earlier this year, were designed to strengthen senior management, Smith said in a statement.

Company spokesman Dan Janal said that Smith would be “spending most of his time in financial duties.”

Those duties apparently include implementing even stricter cost-cutting programs throughout the company.

Commodore already has pared its work force and consolidated its semiconductor operations. It had a $113-million loss last year and, in its latest fiscal quarter ended Sept. 30, it posted a net loss of $39.2 million.