Dow Chemical Company announced several changes in key executive leadership roles as the merger with DuPont approaches.
Dow and DuPont will remain separate for about 18 months after the merger. Under current plans, Dow and DuPont would spin off into three companies, although the companies have hired McKinsey and Co. to look at additional spin-offs and asset sales.
Also, Dow CEO Andrew Liveris has been under pressure from an activist shareholder to retire sooner rather than later.
Pedro Suarez, currently Dow’s North American geographical president, has been named chief commercial officer and will take over these responsibilities from Joe Harlan, who has elected to retire from the Company at the close of the Dow DuPont merger.
Matt Davis, Dow’s corporate vice president of Public and Government Affairs, will add North America geographical president to his existing responsibilities and has been named a senior vice president.
Suarez has served Dow in a variety of commercial, marketing and leadership roles throughout the globe since joining the company in 1979. He will remain located in Chicago and report to Jim Fitterling, president, and chief operating officer.
Davis has served in a variety of communications, public and government affairs leadership roles since joining Dow in 1987. He will remain based in Midland and report to Fitterling for his North America Geographic responsibilities, and continue to be aligned to Liveris, for his Public and Government Affairs role.
Harlan joined Dow in 2011 after more than three decades of leading key business and commercial activities at other Fortune 500 companies. Harlan is a member of Dow’s Executive Leadership Council.
