Eric Rottier, Chief Operating Officer of Air Water America, Inc. and CEO of its Cryogenic Equipment Division, has been elected Chair of the Compressed Gas Association’s (CGA) Board of Directors. Rottier succeeds Jay Worley, Chief Operating Officer of Airgas, who handed off the leadership role at CGA’s 112th Annual Meeting, CGA25. Worley reflected, “Serving as Chair of CGA has been an honor. I’m proud of the strides we’ve made, and I’m confident that CGA will continue to advance under Eric’s capable leadership.”
“I’m honored to step into the role of Chair and help guide CGA’s critical mission to advance safety and technical excellence across the compressed gas industry,” said Rottier. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Jay, particularly as we continue our work to engage a broader and more diverse group of professionals in our standards and safety efforts.”
As Chair, Rottier will lead CGA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He plans to focus on expanding CGA’s impact across emerging sectors while maintaining the association’s position as the preeminent technical authority in the industry. Rottier emphasized the need to grow CGA’s reach, continue developing the next generation of subject matter experts through the YEP program, and streamline development of crucial standards and other safety resources for our industry.
Rottier brings more than three decades of global industrial gas and cryogenic equipment experience to the role. He currently serves as COO of Air Water America, Inc., overseeing a diverse portfolio of equipment companies, including Taylor-Wharton, TOMCO2 Systems, phasetwo, Dohmeyer Cryogenics, and M1 Engineering. He joined Taylor-Wharton International as CEO in 2012 after spending 20 years at Chart Industries, where he held senior leadership roles including President/COO of Chart Asia, SVP of Corporate Development, and Managing Director of Chart Australia.
He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, an M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of St. Thomas, and completed the TGMP program at Harvard Business School. Rottier lives in Lake Shore, Minnesota, with his wife, Melanie, and their three children. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and watching football.
Rottier will be joined by Kelvin Dixon, Senior Vice President at Matheson, who steps into the role of Vice Chair of the CGA Board of Directors. With decades of experience and a deep commitment to safety and operational excellence, Dixon brings a valuable perspective to CGA’s leadership team.
“Eric Rottier’s leadership, paired with the continued support of Jay Worley and the addition of Kelvin Dixon as Vice Chair, positions CGA for another year of strong growth and impact,” said CGA President and CEO Rich Gottwald. “I look forward to working with Eric and the Board as we continue to deliver on our mission of advancing safety for the compressed gas industry.”
About the Compressed Gas Association
The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) is a global leader in the production, storage, distribution, and application of industrial, medical, food, and specialty gases and equipment, with nearly 400 safety standards developed since 1913. Recognized by international organizations like ISO, NFPA, and the United Nations, CGA’s standards are widely adopted by regulatory bodies worldwide. The association supports over 34,000 jobs in the U.S. and contributes over $10 billion to the American economy, with each job in the industry creating more than five additional jobs in related sectors. CGA is committed to promoting safety, innovation, and professional development in the compressed gas sector.