CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Transitions.

STEVE BALLMER, 43, WAS NAMED CHIEF executive of Redmond, WA-based MICROSOFT, a $19.75 billion software company. Ballmer, who will retain his previous title of president, succeeds cofounder Bill Gates, 44, who becomes chairman and chief software architect.

* Douglas N. Daft, 56, was named chairman and chief executive, effective in April, of Atlanta-based COCA-COLA, a $19 billion soft drink company. Daft, currently president and COO, will succeed M. Douglas Ivester, 52, who will retire.

* Robert G. Miller, 55, was named chairman and chief executive of Camp Hill, PA-based RITE AID, a $12.7 billion drugstore chain. Miller, most recently vice chairman and COO of The Kroger Company, succeeds Martin Grass, who resigned in October.

* Andrea Jung, 41, was named president and chief executive of New York based AVON PRODUCTS, a $5.2 billion direct seller of beauty and related products. Jung, previously president and chief operating officer, succeeds Charles R. Perrin, 54, who is retiring.

* Allen Rowland, 55, was named president and chief executive of Jacksonville, FL-based WINN-DIXIE STORES, a $14.14 billion food store chain. Rowland, most recently president and chief operating officer of Smith's Food & Drug Centers, succeeds A. Dano Davis, who becomes chairman.

* Jeff Weitzen was named chief executive of San Diego, CA-based GATEWAY, a $7.5 billion direct marketer of personal computers. Weitzen, who will retain his previous title of president, succeeds company founder Ted Waitt, who remains chairman.

* John Eyler, 52, was named president and chief executive of Paramus, NJ-based TOYS "R" Us, an $11.17 billion retailer of toys and children's products. Eyler, previously chairman and chief executive of FAO Schwarz, succeeds Chairman Michael Goldstein, who had served as acting CEO after the August resignation of Robert C. Nakasone.

* Wayne H. Brunetti, 57, was named chairman, president, and CEO, effective March, of Denver, CO-based NEW CENTURY ENERGIES, a $3.61 billion utilities provider. Brunetti, previously vice chairman, president, and chief operating officer, will succeed Bill D. Helton, 61, who was named chairman emeritus.

* John R. Grainger, 50, was named president and chief executive of Burlington, Ontario-based LAIDLAW, a $2.26 billion provider of transportation management services. Grainger, who served as chief operating officer since 1997, replaces James R. Bullock, who resigned at the request of the board.

* Russ Pillar, 34, was named president and CEO of CBS INTERNET GROUP, a new division of CBS Corp. Pillar, previously president and chief executive of VIRGIN ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, will be responsible for creating CBS's on-line presence and managing its existing portfolio of Internet companies.

* Jack W. Sights, 52, was named chairman, president, and CEO of Providence, RI-based TEXTRON FASTENING SYSTEMS, a $2.2 billion division of Textron. Sights, previously president of Guardian Industries Corp.'s Automotive Products Group, replaces Randy P. Smith, who resigned.

* Al Zollar was named president and chief executive of Cambridge, MA-based LOTUS DEVELOPMENT, a $1.4 billion software maker. Zollar, a 23-year IBM veteran who was most recently general manager of IBM's network computing software division, replaces Jeff P. Papows, who resigned.

* Jean-Pierre Ergas was named chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based BWAY CORP., a $467 million manufacturer of steel containers. Ergas, who has served as non-executive vice chairman since July, succeeds Warren J. Hayford, who becomes vice chairman.

* Richard C. White, 44, was named chief executive of Houston, TX-based VERITAS DGC, a $389 million provider of geological and geophysical technologies to the petroleum industry. White, most recently president of the western geophysical division of Baker Hughes, succeeds David Robson, who becomes executive chairman.