BASF Chattanooga’s new Site Director brings 20 years of manufacturing experience

CHATTANOOGA, TN, January 25, 2024 – BASF welcomes Shelly King as the new Site Director of its Chattanooga sites. King is a leader with more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing across major global producers and will apply her experience and vision to steer the sites toward continued growth and community involvement.

"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,” shared King. “I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the sites.”

King is dedicated to continuing to partner with industry and community leaders to promote economic development, community service and environmental sustainability. She brings diverse perspectives to her role, having worked for major manufacturers such as Ticona, Invista and DuPont. A Chattanooga area native, King has held multiple leadership positions throughout her career, most recently as Director of Central Infrastructure at Wacker.

Her work ethic is driven by her core values, which she plans to put into action at BASF.

"Safety and environmental stewardship will remain at the forefront of our operations,” said King. “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.”

King plans to build on the hard work of her predecessor Robert “Rob” Gagliano who retired in October 2023 after a nearly 30 year career at BASF.

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. He also inspired employees to give back to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) programs in Hamilton County Schools, partnered with the Chattanooga Fire and Police Departments, held annual food drives for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, and more.

For more information on BASF in Tennessee, please visit www.basf.us/TN.  

About BASF

BASF Corporation, 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. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.