Karen M. West

Karen West is an experienced executive, specializing in business development, corporate entrepreneurship, operations and strategic planning and is currently the President of Solesis, a Michelin owned company. Her energy, passion and entrepreneurial spirit enables strong, high-level leadership, driving the Division’s growth.

Karen received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Lehigh University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Jefferson University. Additionally, she holds a certificate of Corporate Entrepreneurship from Lehigh University.

Karen began her career as a textile and process engineer. Now, as an executive, she brings a deep and broad knowledge of operations, people and processes to everything she does, giving her an exceptional talent for executing her vision. Prior to Solesis, she was instrumental in the development of The Secant Group, from its inception in 2002, to what is now the division’s largest operating company. While at Secant, Karen was able to see and capitalize on existing strengths, aligning them within the business to identify growth opportunities and played a major role in operations, manufacturing, R &D, sales, marketing, and corporate quality management. Karen brings this same insight, wisdom and focus to the division as a whole. Working both domestically and internationally, Karen leverages organic and acquisitive growth and profitability for the Solesis companies in the healthcare sector. She communicates her vision clearly, fueling growth, and delivering exceptional value to the Michelin shareholders by overseeing business performance, operations, and strategic growth for Solesis’s operating companies, the Secant Group, Charter Medical, and Sanavita.