Biography
During her 13-year tenure as president and CEO of W. L. Gore & Associates, a multi-billion dollar privately-held global Enterprise, Terri Kelly oversaw the multibillion-dollar enterprise that employs approximately 10,000 associates in 45 plants around the world.
Terri led W.L Gore through a huge transformation journey that completely transformed the way it innovated (leading to the development of a Silicon Valley based innovation centre and its first ever partnership with start-ups) and transformed it into a more data led, agile organisation.
Gore is as well know for its highly progressive management philosophies and culture – which includes peer-based salaries, extensive mentoring systems and decentralised decision-making processes. Gore was cited as ‘the worlds’ most innovative company’ by Fast Company magazine, and is known for its multitude of innovative products such as Gore-Tex and Elixir guitar strings.
Terri currently serves on two public boards; United Rentals, the largest rental equipment company in the world, and Netherlands based ASML, a global leader in the manufacturing of chip making equipment for the semiconductor industry. She is also a Trustee of the Nemours Foundation – one of the nation’s leading children’s health care systems, and also serves on the board of trustees for the University of Delaware and Unidel Foundation.
In addition to her board commitments, Terri is a member of the Management Executive Society, International Women’s Forum, Advisory Council for Serviam Academy and the University of Delaware College of Engineering, and as a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative for the Lerner College of University of Delaware.
Ms. Kelly was awarded the 2019 Delaware Women’s Leadership Conference Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 Executive of the Year from the W.P. Carey School of Business Arizona State University. She was also recognized as a member of the Alumni Wall of Fame by the University of Delaware, and a Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts.