Popoff Named New Chief of Dow Chemical

Frank P. Popoff was named president and chief operating officer of Dow Chemical Co. at the company’s annual stockholders meeting, the company has announced.

The Dow board of directors also said it intended to name Popoff, 51, as CEO on Dec. 1 to succeed Paul Oreffice.

Oreffice reaches the company’s mandatory retirement age of 60 in November. Oreffice, who has been Dow Chemical’s chairman, president and CEO, will continue as chairman after Dec. 1, a company spokesman said.

Popoff said he planned to continue on the course the company set for itself in 1978. The goals set then included diversifying the company geographically and in product mix.

Popoff has been an executive vice president at Dow since May, 1985, and has been with the company since 1959.

Succeeding Popoff is Hunter W. Henry, who will assume overall management responsibilities for non-U.S. and global operations. Henry had been president of Dow U.S.A.

Keith McKennon, a former group vice president, will succeed Henry.