Gov. Jim Doyle named Dick Leinenkugel, the vice president of sales and marketing at the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., the state's new Commerce secretary today - the agency's fourth leader in four years.

Leinenkugel, 50, replaces Jack Fischer, an Appleton architect, who resigned in July amid questions over his spending on overseas and domestic travel. Fischer spent less than a year in office.

The appointment of Leinenkugel comes as the state is seeing thousands of layoffs in the auto, paper, airline and other industries amid a flagging economy. And while investments in technology-based businesses in Wisconsin are increasing, they continue to lag behind other states.

Commerce, a $198 million agency, is charged with helping state companies market goods in other countries, spurring investment in technology and other businesses, and aiding local businesses and communities.

Some business officials and others have worried that Doyle would have a hard time recruiting a new Commerce secretary given the controversy over Fischer's spending, the challenge of a poor economy and that the pay can be lower than in the private sector.