Kris Kielsa

Kris Kielsa is executive vice president and general manager, Institutional North America for Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention technologies and services that protect people and vital resources.

In this role, Kielsa is responsible for Ecolab’s Institutional business, which provides food safety and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to the foodservice, healthcare, hospitality, lodging, long-term care and commercial building markets.

Previously, Kielsa was the senior vice president and general manager of Global Pest Elimination. Kielsa joined Ecolab in 2005 as director of marketing in Pest Elimination. Since then he has held positions of increasing responsibility in Marketing, Business Development and Field Sales in both Pest Elimination and Institutional. Prior to joining Ecolab, Kielsa held marketing leadership positions with Land O’Lakes, ConAgra and Jerome Foods.

Throughout his career, Kielsa has been an active member of several key industry groups including IFT, NPMA, NRA and other trade associations. He has also played a key role supporting the efforts of the American Heart Association. He is also a board member for Bridging, a local non-profit in the greater Twin Cities area.

Kielsa is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.