Overview
- Dow, which announced the leadership shift Tuesday, said COO Karen S. Carter will become CEO on July 1, 2026 as Jim Fitterling moves to executive chair.
- The company described the change as the result of a multi-year succession plan that keeps its strategy steady and places an operations-focused insider in charge.
- Carter has overseen company-wide performance since 2024 and previously led Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Dow’s largest segment by revenue.
- She takes over as Dow cuts about 4,500 jobs, pursues at least $2 billion in profit improvements, closes three upstream plants in Europe, and reviews non-core assets such as power, steam, and pipelines.
- Her appointment marks a milestone as she becomes the first Black woman to lead a major U.S. chemical company.