Sunbeam President Tapped as Chairman

Sunbeam Corp. said President and Chief Executive Jerry Levin, who took charge of the troubled appliance maker after the firing of Chairman Albert Dunlap nine months ago, will also become chairman. Delray Beach Fla.-based Sunbeam, the largest U.S. maker of small appliances, said Levin, 54, replaces Peter Langerman, 43, an outside director who was recently named chief executive of Franklin Mutual Advisers Inc., Sunbeam’s largest shareholder. Levin has helped restore stability to the troubled appliance maker following the firing of Dunlap in June, Langerman said. Langerman will remain a Sunbeam director, Sunbeam said. The announcement was disclosed after the close of New York trading. Earlier, Sunbeam shares fell 6 cents to close at $5.63 on the New York Stock Exchange. Its shares traded as high as $53 in March 1998.