West Manufacturing News • March 2025 • American Welding Society Announces Carey Chen as New CEO

The American Welding Society (AWS) announced that its board of directors has appointed Carey Chen as Executive Director and CEO. Chen succeeds Robert Roth, who served as interim executive director and CEO.

Chen brings extensive leadership experience to AWS, having previously held CEO roles at Fathom Digital Manufacturing Solutions, Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions and Incodema Holdings LLC, and as executive chairman and president of Cincinnati Incorporated. Earlier in his career, he held key executive positions, including vice president & CFO of Hypertherm, Inc., vice president finance of Wiremold|Legrand and vice president & CFO of Bayliner Marine Corporation, a subsidiary of the Brunswick Corporation.

A longstanding supporter of AWS, Chen has been an active volunteer with AWS and the AWS Foundation since 2007. He served as treasurer from 2015 to 2022, during which he chaired the Finance & Business Development and Investment Committees and was a member of the AWS Board of Directors and the AWS Foundation Board of Trustees. Most recently, he chaired the Audit Committee. His contributions to AWS have earned him prestigious recognitions, including being named an AWS Counselor in 2022 and receiving the National Meritorious Award in 2024.

Chen said, “After nearly two decades of volunteer leadership at AWS, I am honored to take on this new responsibility as CEO. I look forward to working closely with our talented staff, dedicated board of directors, volunteers and members to advance AWS’s mission and vision, driving innovation and growth for the welding community.”

In addition to his role at AWS, Mr. Chen currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Roberts Hawaii, Inc., an independent Board Director for CHART Rehabilitation and an Independent Board Advisor for KarYard, Inc. Chen received a B.S. in applied mathematics from University of California, Los Angeles, and earned an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently serves on the Gies College of Business Dean’s Business Council. He also holds several U.S. patents.