Valvoline names Kevin Willis as new CFO starting May 19

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a company specializing in automotive maintenance services, announced the appointment of Kevin Willis as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective May 19, 2025. Willis will take over from Mary Meixelsperger, who is retiring but will stay on through a transition period. According to InvestingPro data, Willis’s current employer Ashland has maintained an impressive 55-year streak of consecutive dividend payments, demonstrating strong financial stewardship under his leadership.

Willis has a long-standing history with Valvoline, having overseen its financial operations during its tenure as a segment of Ashland Global Holdings. His expertise includes capital markets management, financial systems integrations, and operational efficiency improvements, which are expected to contribute to Valvoline’s strategic goals. At Ashland, Willis has overseen aggressive share buyback programs and maintained a healthy current ratio of 2.32, indicating strong liquidity management.

Valvoline’s President & CEO Lori Flees expressed confidence in Willis’s ability to add immediate value to the company, citing his in-depth understanding of Valvoline’s business and his transformational leadership skills. Flees also acknowledged Meixelsperger’s significant contributions since Valvoline’s IPO in 2016, which have been pivotal in shaping the company’s current stature.

Previously, Willis served as CFO of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) since 2013 and held various leadership roles within the company. Notably, he led Valvoline’s successful separation from Ashland and its transition into an independent, publicly traded entity. Willis’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Valvoline Inc. operates over 2,000 service centers in the United States and Canada, providing a range of automotive services, from oil changes to tire rotations. The company prides itself on its team of 11,000 members committed to expanding its retail network and preparing for future vehicle technologies. For deeper insights into Valvoline’s financial health and growth prospects, InvestingPro offers comprehensive analysis through its Pro Research Reports, available for over 1,400 US stocks.

This leadership change comes at a time when Valvoline continues to focus on growth and market opportunities. Under Willis’s leadership at Ashland, the company maintained strong financial metrics with an Altman Z-Score of 2.81, indicating financial stability. The information regarding Willis’s appointment is based on a press release statement from Valvoline Inc.

In other recent news, Ashland Global Holdings Inc. reported its second-quarter results for 2025, which fell short of analyst expectations. The company announced earnings per share of $0.99, missing the forecasted $1.14, and reported revenue of $479 million, which was below the anticipated $513 million. This performance represents a 17% year-over-year decline in sales, with organic sales decreasing by 5%. Despite these results, Ashland completed a $30 million restructuring plan ahead of schedule and revised its full-year sales guidance to a range of $1,825-$1,900 million. The company also adjusted its EBITDA guidance to between $400-$420 million. Analyst firms have not reported any recent upgrades or downgrades for Ashland. The company continues to face challenges from reduced consumer sentiment in key markets, competitive pressures in China, and tariff uncertainties affecting global trade dynamics. Ashland’s leadership remains focused on cost management and productivity improvements to navigate these challenges.

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