Shelly King Named BASF Chattanooga’s New Site Director

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,” said 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.

“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.