J. Samuel Thompson has been named president of Airgas Northern California and Nevada, one of the regional companies that make up Airgas' distribution business.

Thompson leads a region, headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., that includes nearly 600 associates who work in more than 45 locations in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Previously, Thompson was an area vice president for Airgas South.

He replaces Jim McCarthy, who has joined the company's corporate distribution operations department in a new role as director of gas supply chain for Airgas's Western Division.

Thompson joined Airgas in 2000 as an area vice president in Georgia and Tennessee. From 1995 to 2000, he was a regional manager and director of branch operations for Holox, Ltd., which later became part of the U.S. Linde packaged gas business that Airgas acquired in 2007.

From 1991 to 1995, Thompson was regional sales manager for Worthington Cylinders, a manufacturer of propane, refrigerant, and industrial gas cylinders.

He began his career in 1975 working for his father's company, Gulf Welding Equipment Company, Inc., which was acquired by Airgas in 1989.

Thompson has been an active member in the American Welding Society and the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA). He is relocating to Sacramento from the Atlanta area.