MIDLAND, MI – Dow has announced Karen S. Carter as its new Chief Operating Officer, a role that reflects her more than three decades of leadership and innovation within the company. Formerly the President of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Carter will now oversee strategic and operational excellence across Dow’s key business segments.
In her new role, Carter will manage Dow’s three core business segments—Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings. She will also align the company’s Integrated Supply Chain, Purchasing, Information Systems, and Commercial organizations under her leadership.
Carter will be based in Midland and report directly to Dow Chair and CEO Jim Fitterling. She will also join the company’s Executive Committee, playing a pivotal role in shaping Dow’s strategic direction.
“Karen is a proven leader with more than three decades of experience at Dow delivering strong business results,” said 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.”
Carter’s career at Dow began in 1994 and has included leadership roles in operations, sales, marketing, and human resources. She most recently led the Packaging & Specialty Plastics division, which generated over $23 billion in annual sales and became one of Dow’s most profitable segments.
Under her leadership, the division introduced pioneering circular products such as REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins and expanded Dow’s role in the circular economy through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. Her contributions have positioned Dow as a leader in sustainable innovation.
Before leading Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Carter served as Dow’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer. In these roles, she championed a culture of inclusivity, empowering employees to align their efforts with Dow’s long-term strategies.
Carter’s leadership experience extends globally, with roles spanning industries such as consumer electronics, construction, and engineering thermoplastics. Her expertise has been instrumental in driving business strategies and fostering innovation across diverse markets.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Carter is deeply committed to her community. She serves on the boards of Southwire and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region. She also chairs Michigan’s Black Leadership Advisory Council’s Business Leaders Committee and is a member of the Catalyst Board of Advisors and the Executive Leadership Council.
