Dow recently announced that Karen S. Carter, who has been with the company since 1994, has been appointed chief operating officer (COO).
Carter immediately took over in her new role after having been president of Dow’s packaging and specialty plastics (P&SP) operating segment. She will drive business and operational performance across the organization by strengthening customer engagement and relationships, accelerate the commercialization of Dow’s innovation pipeline, and enhance the company’s reliability and service to customers, according to a Dow news release.
In addition to P&SP, she will assume strategic oversight of Dow’s other business operating segments: industrial intermediates and infrastructure, and performance materials and coatings.
Dow’s integrated supply chain, purchasing, information systems, and commercial organizations will also report to Carter.
She will continue to report to Jim Fitterling, Dow CEO and chair, and will join the company’s executive committee. She will continue to be based in Midland, Michigan.
After joining Dow 1994, she has held various leadership positions, including business operations, sales and marketing, and human resources. As president of P&SP, she oversaw one of the world’s largest suppliers of polyethylene resins and functional polymers with more than $23 billion in annual sales. “In partnership with customers and brand owners, Carter has led the development of innovative solutions that are helping to enable a circular economy,” according to the company. “This includes the launch of circular product lines such as REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins and INNATE™ Precision Packaging Resins as well as the acquisition of Circulus and strategic partnerships to scale circular feedstock supply.”