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James Fitterling

Executive Chair, Dow Inc.

Search every verified James Fitterling interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a May 2026 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Dow CEO Jim Fitterling announced he would step down from the role on July 1, 2026, after eight years, and transition to executive chairman. Fitterling cited the readiness of his successor, Karen Carter, and his own desire to pursue personal goals while still in good health, noting a past bout with stage four cancer in 2008. He stated that the company had a deliberate succession process and that the timing felt right, with a major transformation project underway. Fitterling discussed his ongoing priorities, including work on the circular economy, plastic recycling, and climate issues, which he described as long-term problems that are not going away. He noted that he talks about these topics less than four years ago to avoid being a "lightning rod," but continues to work on them. He also mentioned his continued engagement as executive chairman on strategic relationships, including the Sadara partnership in Saudi Arabia and a nuclear project with X Energy, which he said needs to reach a final investment decision. On global trade, Fitterling argued that strategic straits must be reopened under international maritime law and governed by a jointly supported body, not beholden to any single country.

Recent appearances

Notable quotes

“The number one most important thing is the straits have to be reopened under international maritime law. They can't be beholden to one country. They benefit the world. So it would be even if that one country is the US, it can't be. I don't think it works. I think it has to be a jointly supported governing body that looks at this thing and says this is how the straits are going to operate.”

“I think nuclear is going to play a part because if you want 24/7 available dispatchable power and low cost and less no emissions and the added benefit if you can do it at the similar price to combined cycle gas with sequestration, you don't have the sequestration issue with nuclear.”

“I will stay on and I'll stay primarily engaged with obviously chairing the board governance activities, some strategic relationships working through the Sadara relationship with the Saudis. Also, you know, the nuclear project which we embarked on with X Energy who just went public here about a week or so ago. So we want to get that to a final investment decision, go no-go kind of a framework.”

“In the pursuit of the perfect we sometimes forget how expensive it is. For me to do it at a price where a brand owner can say I can convert my product line means I can't wait for green hydrogen — I have to move now and make that transition now.”

“We moved to Canada first because they had those policies in place. They have a market price on carbon in Canada — that price signal is important to drive that next wave of investment.”

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