Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance, Crop Science
Kelly S. Gast is an accomplished finance leader with global business experience. As Bayer’s previous U.S. Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Gast led all financial and administrative operations for Bayer’s U.S. businesses, collectively representing $14.5 billion in annual revenue. She provided guidance and financial governance to shape and execute business strategy and development in the U.S. Gast held responsibility for finance, tax, treasury, accounting, controlling, commercial support, procurement, risk management, facility/office management, security, real estate and post-merger integration.
Previously, Gast was the Vice President for Commercial Finance at Monsanto Company where she led an international team of approximately 600 and supported more than $13 billion in annual revenue. She worked closely with other members of the senior leadership team on forecasting, budgeting and long-range planning for Monsanto’s commercial organization.
Gast joined Monsanto in 1995, and held diverse roles with increasing responsibility, serving as Assistant Controller, U.S. Strategic Accounts Lead, and finance lead for divisions including Crop Protection, U.S. Commercial, Technology and Human Resources.
Gast is passionate about giving back to her community and lends her support to several organizations. She is currently part of the St. Louis United Way Executive and Investment Committees. She is an emeritus Board of Directors member for the Center for Women in Transition, continuing to serve on the Center’s Finance committee. Gast also is a member of the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee for Great Circle, a comprehensive provider of behavioral health services throughout Missouri. In addition, she has previously served on the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation Sponsors’ Board.
In 2011, Gast completed the Eisenhower Fellowships U.S. Program, a highly selective program designed to help business leaders broaden and enhance their global perspective and partnerships and have a greater impact in their home region and professional sphere.
Gast has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She lives with her husband in Town & Country, MO.