Karen S. Carter will be responsible for driving business and operational performance across the organization with a focus on strengthening customer engagement and relationships, accelerating the commercialization of Dow's innovation pipeline, and enhancing the Company's reliability and service to customers. She will assume strategic oversight of Dow's business operating segments – Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings. In addition, Dow's Integrated Supply Chain, Purchasing, Information Systems, and Commercial organizations will align to Carter. She will continue to report to Dow Chair and Chief Executive Officer Jim Fitterling and will join the Company's Executive Committee. She will continue to be based in Midland, Michigan.
"Karen is a proven leader with more than three decades of experience at Dow delivering strong business results," commented Fitterling. "She has an excellent track record of operating discipline, maintaining close relationships with key partners and customers, and driving innovation across the organization. She has successfully led our largest business and played critical leadership roles in other essential business and functional teams within Dow, always with a focus on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. As COO, she will work closely with me and our executive team to drive growth and value creation across our operating segments, while continuing to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers."
Carter joined Dow in 1994 and has held various leadership roles over her 30-year career, including business operations, sales and marketing, and human resources. Most recently, as President of Dow's Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP) segment, she led the expansion of cost-efficient capacity and the development of innovative solutions for a circular economy, including the launch of circular product lines and strategic partnerships. The P&SP segment is one of the world's largest suppliers of polyethylene resins and functional polymers, with over $23 billion (€21.74 billion) in annual sales.
Before leading P&SP, Carter was Dow's Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer, where she fostered a culture of growth and contribution, aligning with Dow's business strategy and long-term value growth.
Carter is on the board of directors for Southwire and the Great Lakes Bay Region Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She also chairs the Business Leaders Committee on the State of Michigan's Black Leadership Advisory Council, is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, and chairs the Catalyst Board of Advisors.
