Board of Directors

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2003

Mr. Inglis joined Battelle, a research and development enterprise headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, in 2004, and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, retiring in July 2014. Through July 2013, he also served as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he had retired as Group Vice President, Business Strategy for Ford Motor Company. He joined Ford of Europe in London in 1971 and held various finance and operations positions in international and domestic markets. He was named head, Global Products and Business Strategy, and elected a corporate Vice President in 1996; President, Ford South America, in 1999; head, Ford North America, in 2000; and Chief Financial Officer in 2001. Mr. Inglis also served on the Advisory Board of three venture funds (Reservoir Ventures, Battelle Ventures, and Fletcher Spaght), stepping down in mid-2015 from the first two.

Mr. Inglis is active in local charities and serves on the Board of Breckenridge Creative Arts where he is the Chairman. He served as the Chairman of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra for six years through 2014. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2019

Dr. Acoff is the Dean of the School of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Mississippi, a position she has held since July 2023. From 2014 through June 2023, Dr. Acoff was the Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Programs and Professor of Metallurgical Engineering at The University of Alabama, where she served nearly 30 years on the faculty in the College of Engineering and in various administrative positions. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering and holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in the same field. All degrees were earned at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Acoff also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Four Little Girls Memorial Fund, the Board of Directors of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), and has been elected to the 2025-2028 TMS Presidential Cycle. She holds multiple awards, honors, and publications.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2019

Dr. Hart is the Class of 1922 Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”). He is also the Director of the MIT Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP) and Center for Advanced Production Technologies (APT). From 2013 to 2020, he was an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Dr. Hart has worked extensively with industry and is a co-founder of VulcanForms, Inc. and Desktop Metal, Inc.

Dr. Hart earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees from MIT, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He has received numerous awards for his research and teaching accomplishments.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2012

Mr. Karol is Managing Partner and founder of Watermill Group, a private investment firm specializing in strategic and operational management. He serves on the Boards of private companies owned by the Watermill Group, including Quality Metalcraft, Inc., Experi-Metal, Inc., Cooper and Turner, LTD., Beck Industries, Weston Industries, Musser Lumber Company and ENBI Global, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Karol is Chairman of the Board and CEO of HMK Enterprises, Inc., a privately-held investment company. From 2006 through February 2012, Mr. Karol served as a Director of Latrobe Specialty Metals, Inc. (“Latrobe”), a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance materials, which was partially owned by the Watermill Group during this time period and was acquired by Carpenter Technology in February 2012. 

Mr. Karol is currently a member of the Board of Advisors of The Walter Group. He has also served as Chairman of the Board at Mooney Aircraft Company, Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at StockerYale, and as a Director for Jeepers! Inc., Intelligent Energy Limited, Inter-Tel Corp., Superior Tubes, and Fine Tubes.

Mr. Karol is currently a member of the Young President’s Organization-Gold and has served as a member of the leadership team for this organization. During this time, Mr. Karol served on the International Board of Directors (1991−2001), Chairman of Strategic Planning (1993−1996), and as International President (1998−1999). He is currently on the board and the executive committee of Chief Executives Organization, where he serves as International Vice President of Education. He is currently a trustee of Tufts University and is Chairman of the Committee on Trusteeship. He received the 2009 Tufts Distinguished Service Award. He is also past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Vermont Academy and a recipient of the Condit Cup award. He is a Director Emeritus at the National Brain Tumor Society. In addition, he is a co-founder and President of the Herbert M. Karol Cancer Foundation. He formerly served as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and he is a Trustee Emeritus of the Boston Ballet.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2017

Kathleen Ligocki is a serial CEO, an experienced board member and an advisor for growth companies. During her operating career from 2015 to 2019, Ms. Ligocki served as the CEO of Agility Fuel Solutions, a leader in sustainable clean energy storage and propulsion solutions for commercial vehicles around the world. From 2014 to 2015, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of Harvest Power, one of the leading organics management companies in North America with a mission to create a more sustainable future by transforming organic wastes into bioenergy and soil amendment products. From 2012 to 2014, she worked as an Operating Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital providers. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Ligocki served as Chief Executive Officer of Next Autoworks, an auto company with a unique low-cost business model. From 2008 to 2009, Ms. Ligocki served as Chief Executive Officer of GS Motors, a Mexico City based auto retailer owned by Grupo Salinas, a large Mexican conglomerate. From 2003 to 2007, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Tower Automotive, a Fortune 1000 global auto supplier. Ms. Ligocki also founded her own firm, Pine Lake Partners, a consultancy firm focused on start-ups and turnarounds. She has held executive positions at Ford and United Technologies, where she led operations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Russia. She started her career at General Motors in manufacturing leadership, sales and strategy/program management.

In addition to Carpenter Technology, Ms. Ligocki currently serves as an Independent Director on the public boards of Lear Corporation (Fortune 200 auto supplier) and PPG Industries (Fortune 500 coatings company), one private company board at Aperia Technologies, a tech start-up for tire management, and two advisory boards focused on tackling the world’s climate challenges through innovation: Lime Rock New Energy and Assembly Ventures. Ms. Ligocki just moved to Director Emeritus status on the Indiana University Foundation Board in June 2024.

Ms. Ligocki earned a BA degree with highest distinction from Indiana University Kokomo and holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she was a GM fellow. She also has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana University Kokomo, Central Michigan University, and Oakland University.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2020

Mr. McLane served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alcoa Corporation from 2007 to 2013. As Chief Financial Officer, he had accountability for Alcoa’s Finance organization, which included Treasury, Controllership, Pension, Investor Relations, Tax, Audit and Financial Planning & Analysis. He was also responsible for the Global Business Service group, which provides IT, purchasing and business support services globally.

Mr. McLane joined Alcoa in 2000 as Director of Investor Relations, following Alcoa’s acquisition of Reynolds Metals Company. Two years later, he was appointed Vice President and Corporate Controller, which also had responsibility for Alcoa Business Support Services. He also had accountability for Alcoa’s transactional service functions, including procurement, financial shared services, environment, health and safety services, and corporate aircraft operations. Prior to joining Alcoa, Mr. McLane worked for Reynolds Metals for 27 years serving in a series of financial assignments, including Division Controller, Director of Finance and Administration for Reynolds’ Global Can business unit, Assistant Controller and Assistant Treasurer.

Mr. McLane has served on the board of directors of the Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa World Alumina, and the National Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of the USA. Previously, he was a member of the Conference Board’s Council of Financial Executives Institute and a member of the CFO Board Academy, as well as a member of the board of Sapa AB. Mr. McLane earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also attended the Executive Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Pritchett brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience and demonstrated success improving operations and expanding product portfolios through innovation and growth strategies in industrial, electronics, and aerospace industries. Ms. Pritchett is the former President, Aperture Solutions - U.S. at Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc., the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, a position she held from August 2022 through June 2024. From 2018 to 2022, she served as President, Americas Aerospace, a division of Hexcel Corporation, a leading producer of carbon fiber reinforcements and resin systems, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry. Prior to Hexcel, Ms. Pritchett spent 22 years in various roles of increasing responsibility with DuPont.

Ms. Pritchett received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University and an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She also has leadership training from the Harvard Business School Leadership Program and Women in Governance Program at UCLA.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2015

Mr. Thene was appointed to serve as Carpenter Technology’s President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2015, when he was also appointed to the Board of Directors. He previously served as Carpenter Technology’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from January 2013 until June 2015. Prior to joining Carpenter Technology, Mr. Thene served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Engineered Products and Solutions Business Group at Alcoa, Inc. from 2010 until 2013. Previously, he served as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Alcoa. He also previously held various other positions during his 23-year career at Alcoa, including Director, Investor Relations; Chief Financial Officer for the Flat Rolled Products Group; Chief Financial Officer for Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals; and manufacturing manager for the Alumina Chemicals business.

Mr. Thene earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Indiana State University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Thene served on the Board of Directors of Mativ Holdings, Inc., formed on July 6, 2022, by merger of Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc., and Neenah, Inc., two leading global manufacturers of specialty materials, from 2022 until May 2024. Previously he served on the Board of Directors of Neenah, Inc. from 2018 until 2022. He also served on Furman University’s Board of Trustees.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2001

Mr. Ward is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Lenovo Corporation, the international computer company formed by the acquisition of IBM’s PC business by Lenovo. Mr. Ward is a member of the founding team of C3.ai, the leading developer of Artificial Intelligence enterprise platforms and serves as a board member and Compensation Committee Chairperson.

Prior to joining Lenovo, Mr. Ward was senior vice president and general manager of IBM’s Personal Systems Group, responsible for the Personal Computing Division, the Retail Store Solutions Division, and the Printing Systems Division. In his 26-year career with IBM, he also served as IBM’s Chief Information Officer, and IBM Vice President of Business Transformation, directing business process and information technology investments. Mr. Ward was also general manager of IBM’s Global Industrial Sector, responsible for the marketing, sales, and service of IBM products and services to all manufacturing and industrial companies worldwide and General Manager of the IBM ThinkPad product lines. Mr. Ward began his career at IBM as an engineer in the Storage Products Division. He held various management positions in manufacturing, production control, and project development for disk drive, tape, and optical storage projects and software development, and was also an assistant to the IBM chairman.

Previously, he held positions on the boards of Lenovo, E-Ink, E2open, where he was a co-founder, QDVision, KLX Aerospace, KLXE Energy, and Vonage Holdings Corp. Mr. Ward earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

Joined Carpenter Technology’s board in 2021

Mr. Younessi served as Group President, Construction Industries Group, of Caterpillar, Inc. before retiring in December 2020. As Group President of Caterpillar’s Construction Industries Group, he was responsible for Earthmoving, Excavation, Building Construction Products, China Operations and Global Construction & Infrastructure Divisions, Global Rental and Used Equipment Services, and Strategic Procurement. Mr. Younessi joined Caterpillar in 2013 and has also served as Caterpillar’s Group President of Energy & Transportation and Vice President of Industrial Power Systems. Prior to joining Caterpillar, Mr. Younessi held a number of senior executive positions at Daimler AG and Navistar Inc. In addition, Mr. Younessi has been an investor and Senior Advisor to Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), a leading private equity investment firm, and board member on several portfolio companies since 2013.

Mr. Younessi holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Maryland. Mr. Younessi is a registered professional engineer in the state of Illinois and a member of SAE International.

Joined Carpenter Technology's board in 2024

Mr. Yu brings more than 25 years of financial leadership experience in large multinational organizations. Mr. Yu is currently the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for Ball Corporation, a supplier of innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products customers. Prior to his current role, Mr. Yu served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Envista, a publicly traded global company and spin-off of Danaher. Throughout his 22-year Danaher and Envista career, Mr. Yu served as Chief Financial Officer for multiple global divisions in Asia, Europe, and Latin America where he led successful M&A and systems transformations through varied global economic environments to drive shareholder value creation. Prior to joining Danaher, he worked in finance at Hewlett-Packard and as Senior Auditor at Deloitte.