NATION

John R. Albers, 56, the veteran Dr Pepper executive who led the purchase of Seven-Up in 1986 and its merger with Dr Pepper, has been named president and chief executive of Dr Pepper/Seven-Up, Dallas, and of both divisions. As president of Seven-Up, he replaced James J. Harford, who resigned. True H. Knowles, 51, has succeeded Albers as chief operating officer of the Dr Pepper division, has been named executive vice president, a new position in Dr Pepper, and has been named a corporate senior vice president. Knowles had been Dr Pepper senior vice president-sales and vice president-fountain/foodservice in the Seven-Up division. He continues in the Seven-Up post.