Jim Fitterling

Jim Fitterling has served as Chairman and CEO of Dow Inc since the 2019 separation of DowDuPont into three independent companies (Dow, DuPont, and Corteva Agriscience). Dow is the world's largest producer of polyethylene (the most widely used plastic), a major producer of other commodity chemicals (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, silicones), and a leading player in industrial intermediates, coatings, and packaging materials. Dow's business is highly cyclical, driven by the ethylene cycle: when ethylene and polyethylene prices are high (tight supply vs. demand), Dow generates enormous cash flow; when prices are low (oversupply from new cracker capacity, particularly in China), margins compress severely. Fitterling's challenge is managing this cyclicality while investing in long-term growth and sustainability. The most significant strategic investment is Path2Zero — a $6.5 billion project in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta to build the world's first net-zero carbon emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives complex. Using clean hydrogen, carbon capture, and renewable power, Path2Zero would triple Dow's ethylene capacity in Alberta while achieving net-zero emissions, addressing the chemical industry's massive carbon footprint challenge. Key stock drivers include polyethylene and ethylene prices, global chemical supply/demand balance, Path2Zero project execution and economics, feedstock costs (ethane, naphtha), construction activity (silicones, coatings), packaging demand, dividend sustainability, and Chinese chemical capacity additions that impact global supply.