Airgas Inc. (NYSE: ARG), Radnor, PA, has named Kevin M. McBride president of Airgas's south region, and Emmanuel Dupree has been named president – Airgas Refrigerants Inc. McBride succeeds Chuck Broadus who was recently promoted to president of Airgas's south division, and Dupree succeeds Ted Schulte who is retiring at the end of the month after nearly 16 years of executive leadership at Airgas.

McBride was most recently president – Airgas Great Lakes region, headquartered in Cleveland, OH, one of 13 regions that make up the Airgas USA LLC distribution business. He served in that capacity beginning in June 2007. In his new role as president of the south region, McBride will lead Airgas' efforts in an area that spans from southern Tennessee and eastern Mississippi through Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Airgas' south region headquarters is in Kennesaw, GA.

McBride joined Airgas in March 2007 as vice president of business development for Airgas merchant gases, after serving as vice president and general manager of the Linde Bulk Business Group, which Airgas acquired in March 2007 forming Airgas Merchant Gases.

As newly appointed president of Airgas refrigerants, Emmanuel Dupree brings to the role more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience, including financial leadership roles within Airgas. He most recently served as CFO for Airgas Refrigerants Inc., Airgas Specialty Products Inc., and Airgas Nitrous Oxide Inc. As president of Airgas refrigerants, he will oversee Airgas' full range of refrigerant products, reclamation services and distribution networks that serve the air conditioning and refrigeration industries.

Dupree joined Airgas in 2008 from Innoware LLC, Alpharetta, GA, where he has been the corporate controller since 2006.