Midland, Michigan, United States, July 2026 — Dow has appointed Karen S. Carter as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Jim Fitterling, who has transitioned to the role of Executive Chair of the Board. Karen will also join Dow’s Board of Directors, marking the culmination of a multi-year succession planning process designed to ensure leadership continuity as the company advances its long-term growth strategy.
A respected leader with more than 30 years of experience at Dow, Karen steps into the CEO role with deep operational expertise, extensive customer knowledge, and a proven track record of driving business performance across the enterprise. As Chief Operating Officer, she has overseen company-wide business and operational performance, leading Dow’s operating segments and key functional organizations while strengthening customer engagement, accelerating innovation, and enhancing operational excellence.
Before becoming Chief Operating Officer, Karen served as President of Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Dow’s largest operating segment. During her tenure, she drove value creation through strategic asset upgrades, capacity expansions, improved manufacturing reliability, and the advancement of circular economy solutions in partnership with customers and global brand owners. Over the course of her distinguished career, she has held senior leadership positions across business, commercial, and corporate functions, giving her a comprehensive understanding of Dow’s global operations and strategic priorities.
Her appointment reflects Dow’s confidence in her ability to lead the company through its next phase of growth while continuing to build on its strong foundation as one of the world’s leading materials science companies. Under her leadership, Dow will continue to focus on operational excellence, customer-centric innovation, sustainability, and long-term value creation for shareholders, employees, and customers worldwide.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers across high-growth sectors including packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. Leveraging its global manufacturing footprint, integrated operations, customer-focused innovation, and leading market positions, Dow develops advanced materials that help create a more sustainable future.
Operating manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employing approximately 34,600 people worldwide, Dow generated approximately US$40 billion in sales during 2025. The company’s continued focus on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability enables it to deliver differentiated solutions that address evolving customer needs while driving profitable long-term growth.
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