The company said today that Mr Hartery would take over the role after its AGM on May 9, after which Mr McGowan will retire.
Mr Hartery (60) joined the CRH board in 2004. He has worked at Dell and Eastman Kodak.
He is currently chief executive of consulting company Prodigium, and a non-executive director of grocery group Musgrave and telecoms firm Eircom.
Heather Ann McSharry has also joined the CRH board as a non-executive director.
Ms McSharry (50) is chairman of the board of trustees of Bank of Ireland Pension Fund and is a director of Ergonomics Solutions International, IDA Ireland and the Institute of Directors. She was previously a director of Bank of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
