William O. Beers; Former CEO, President of Kraft

William O. Beers, 77, former chief executive officer and president of Kraft Inc. Beers became president and chief operating officer of Kraft in 1968 and became chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1972. He retired in 1979. During the 1970s, the company became the largest processor of manufactured and packaged goods in the world, with sales of more than $5 billion. In Scottsdale, Ariz., on April 19 of respiratory illness.