Karen S. Carter has officially assumed her position as the Chief Executive Officer of Dow. The move follows her appointment as CEO-elect in April 2026, succeeding her previous role as the firm’s chief operating officer. Under her strategic leadership, the global materials science corporation will maintain its core focus on safe and reliable consumer delivery, operational innovation and commercial execution.
“I know what this Company and this team are capable of. And I look forward to working to deliver greater impact for all our stakeholders. That’s where we’re focused, and we will achieve it by leveraging our innovation, strong execution and raising the bar on performance,” Carter said.
Carter initially joined the company in 1994, building a career that spans over 30 years across international territories, including the Asia Pacific region. Her background covers several critical business units, including business operations, marketing, information technology equipment and consumer electronics. As chief operating officer, she managed the overall performance of Dow’s three business operating segments, with a specific focus on pipeline commercialisation and customer service.
Previously, Carter worked as the president of Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics division, which records more than $23 billion in annual sales. During her time running the unit, she oversaw asset upgrades and capacity expansions while scaling circular economy solutions such as REVOLOOP™ Recycled Plastic Resins and INNATE™ Precision Packaging Resins. Her earlier executive appointments at the group include serving as chief human resources officer and chief inclusion officer.
The new Chief Executive Officer holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a master’s degree from DePaul University. Beyond her internal responsibilities, she sits on the board of Southwire and is a member of the Business Roundtable and the US-China Business Council. Her career accolades include being listed on Fortune’s Next to Lead list in 2025 and the Fortune Most Powerful Women list in 2026.
