DANBURY — Praxair, Inc has announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jim Sawyer will retire on December 31 after 28 years of service with Praxair and its predecessor company, Union Carbide. Mr Sawyer has served as Praxair’s CFO for 13 years.

Matthew White, 41, currently president of Praxair Canada, and a resident of Newtown, will succeed Mr Sawyer as senior vice president and CFO, effective January 1, 2014. Mr Sawyer will serve in an advisory capacity to the company until March 1, 2014.

“Matt is a dynamic leader who has a proven track record in key areas of finance and operations,” said Steve Angel, Praxair chairman and chief executive officer. “Matt will drive results for our shareholders and provide strong leadership and guidance in the years to come. I am pleased to welcome Matt to the executive leadership team.”

Mr White was appointed president of Praxair Canada in 2011. He joined Praxair in 2004 as finance director of Praxair’s largest business unit, North American Industrial Gases.

In 2008, he became vice president and controller of Praxair then was named vice president and treasurer in 2010. Before joining Praxair, Mr White was vice president, finance at Fisher Scientific and prior to that he held various financial positions, including group controller at GenTek, a manufacturing and performance chemicals company.

Mr White earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University and a master’s degree in business administration-finance from the University of Delaware. He is a certified public accountant and a CFA charterholder.

Sean Durbin, vice president of operations for Praxair’s US Industrial Gases group, will succeed Mr White as president, Praxair Canada. Mr Durbin joined Praxair in 1992 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in business development, global supply systems, product management and operations.