Teressa Szelest

Biography

Teressa Szelest began her current role as President, Market and Business Development North America for BASF Corporation on May 1, 2015. She is responsible for BASF’s strategic business development and marketing across the region, focusing on customer relations and forging new business opportunities. She is also responsible for manufacturing operations at nearly 100 BASF sites throughout the U.S., and oversees environment health and safety (EHS), engineering and maintenance, process optimization and sustainability. Teressa joined BASF in 1988 and held a variety of technical, management and business leadership roles throughout her career. She began as an Environmental Specialist within the EHS group. After roles of progressively more responsibility within EHS, she moved in 2000 to a marketing management position in BASF’s North American Performance Chemicals business. In 2004, Teressa was appointed Vice President for Intermediates in North America, and in 2007 assumed the role of Senior Vice President for the North American Intermediates business. In 2011, Teressa, assumed the role of Senior Vice President for BASF’s Global Hygiene business based at the company’s world headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Teressa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. She resides in New Jersey, is married and has two daughters.

Research Interest

Business Development, Enviroment Health and Safety, Engineering and Maintanance, Process Optimization and Sustainability.