The South Korean company buying the StarKist tuna brand has turned to a familiar face to run the division.

Donald J. Binotto, who has been involved in the tuna line for years including stints at both Del Monte Foods Co. and the H.J. Heinz Co., has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the operation.

Dongwon Enterprise Co. is expected to close this fall on the purchase of StarKist for $363 million from San Francisco-based Del Monte.

Mr. Binotto was involved in a number of innovations involving the tuna line, including selling the product in a retail pouch in addition to the traditional canned version. He left Del Monte, which acquired the brand from Pittsburgh-based Heinz several years ago, in 2005.