New Providence, New Jersey, United States, February 2026 — Kelley Barber has started a new position as Head of Regional People & Culture Surface Treatment & Local Business Partner at Chemetall, where she will lead regional people strategy and culture initiatives to support the company’s surface treatment operations and business growth.
Prior to joining Chemetall, Kelley Barber spent over a decade at BASF, most recently serving as Head of HR Americas. In this role, she led a large HR business partner team supporting multiple business units and more than a thousand employees across the Americas. She played a key role in driving organizational transformation, compensation strategy modernization, leadership development, and digital HR initiatives, while guiding complex integrations and workforce strategies aligned with global objectives.
Earlier in her BASF career, she served as a Global and Regional Human Resources Business Partner, spearheading global HR strategy across multiple regions and leading initiatives in succession planning, diversity and inclusion, leadership coaching, and talent management. She also managed university recruitment and emerging talent programs that strengthened BASF’s long-term talent pipeline. Her earlier experience includes HR and recruiting roles at Dish Network, Aerotek, and Cardinal Staffing Services, building a strong foundation in large-scale workforce management and talent acquisition.
About Chemetall
Chemetall is the global Surface Treatment business unit of BASF Coatings and a worldwide leader in advanced surface technologies. With more than 130 years of experience and a global network of specialists and laboratories, the company provides high-performance solutions that prepare, protect, and enhance metal, plastic, and glass surfaces for industries including automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Chemetall serves thousands of customers worldwide through innovative products and on-site technical expertise.
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