Airgas Inc. (NYSE: ARG), Radnor, PA, has named David Shedd president of the Airgas West region, reporting to Max Hooper, Airgas Western Division president. Shedd replaces Samuel Thompson, who left Airgas to pursue other interests.

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After working for several companies in Europe, Shedd joined TRW in 1990 working in the company's finance and strategic planning group. In 1994, Shedd joined Oldcastle Precast, an industrial infrastructure company, where he held various positions with increasing responsibility. He resigned from Oldcastle Precast in 2010 to form a consulting firm and publish two books on business leadership.

Shedd holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Williams College and an MBA in finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.