Shelly King, who has nearly two decades of plant management experience at Wacker, Invista and DuPont plants in the Chattanooga area, has been named the new site director of BASF in Chattanooga.
King succeeds Robert "Rob" Gagliano, who retired from BASF last October after nearly 30 years with the German-based chemical giant.
"It's an honor to join BASF's dynamic team in Chattanooga, where there is a blend of strong safety culture, commitment to operational excellence and an esteemed reputation in the community," King said Thursday in an announcement of her promotion. "I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the sites."
The BASF plant at 2120 Polymer Drive began operations in 1964, and BASF's other Chattanooga plant at 32 Lost Mound Drive started production in 1971. The Chattanooga BASF plants produce a range of water based polymer dispersions shipped to customers around the world. According to BASF, the company has 150 employees with an annual payroll of more than $15 million at its Chattanooga sites and its products are used in formulations for construction chemicals, adhesives and printing and packaging products.
A Chattanooga area native, King most recently worked as director of central infrastructure at the Wacker plant in Charleston, Tennessee.
Gagliano began his career with BASF in 1987, working as a design engineer, plant engineer and operations manager before taking over as site director in 2009. During his career, BASF earned numerous sustainability and excellence in manufacturing achievements.
"Safety and environmental stewardship will remain at the forefront of our operations," King said. "Additionally, we are committed to empowering all employees to be the best they can be by fostering a culture of teamwork. BASF in Chattanooga will continue to support innovation and meeting our goal of being a preferred supplier for our customers."
BASF Corp., headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022.
— Compiled by Dave Flessner
Shelly King