Pennsylvania-based industrial, medical and specialty gases distributor Airgas has appointed Samuel Thompson as president of Airgas West, and Michael Chandler as President of Airgas Northern California and Nevada Region.

Mr Thompson replaces Glen Irving, who has joined the Airgas corporate sales department in a new role expanding marketing expertise in metal fabrication markets. Michael Chandler has been named to fill the role vacated by Mr Thompson as president of Airgas Northern California and Nevada (NCN).

Succeeding Mr Thompson as president of Airgas NCN is Michael Chandler, previously the vice president of sales and marketing at another region, Airgas Southwest.

Mr Chandler came to Airgas in the company’s 2006 acquisition of Union Industrial Gases, where he had worked as president of Valley Gases in New Mexico for six years.

Prior to that, Mr Chandler served in various capacities at Matheson Tri-Gas after beginning his career at Big Three Industries in 1974.