Valvoline Inc. Announces Nomination of Janet Wong and Chris Carr to its Board of Directors and Retirement of Board Members Mary Twinem and Vada Manager
MWN-AI** Summary
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a leader in preventive automotive maintenance, has announced the nomination of Janet S. Wong and Chris Carr for election to its Board of Directors during the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Their nominations come as current board members Mary J. Twinem and Vada O. Manager plan to retire from the board after nine years of service. Wong will succeed Twinem as the Audit Committee Chair once elected in January 2026.
Janet Wong is noted for her extensive experience in finance and management, having spent most of her career as a senior partner at KPMG. Her expertise encompasses areas such as financial accounting, internal controls, risk management, and strategic planning, including M&A. She is currently on the boards of Lucid Group, Inc., and TWFG, Inc., and holds a trustee position at the Louisiana Tech University Foundation.
Chris Carr's experience in retail leadership positions him well for the board. He serves as Chairman of REI and holds board positions at Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Equity Residential. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Sweetgreen and also held significant roles at Starbucks, focusing on retail and supply chain management. Carr is a trustee for Howard University and the University of San Diego.
Richard Freeland, Chairman of the Board, expressed eagerness to welcome Wong and Carr, emphasizing their potential contributions to Valvoline's strategic growth. CEO Lori Flees also highlighted their proven track records in driving growth, which will be vital as Valvoline continues to innovate and expand its services across its 2,200 service centers in North America.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is poised for significant growth following the announcement of the nomination of Janet Wong and Chris Carr to its Board of Directors. Their extensive experience in finance and retail, coupled with the retirement of long-serving members Mary Twinem and Vada Manager, signals a strategic pivot aimed at enhancing the company's operational excellence and market position.
Janet Wong's background as a senior partner at KPMG and her expertise in M&A, internal controls, and risk management will be vital in navigating Valvoline's future financial landscapes. Her impending role as Audit Committee Chair indicates a strong focus on financial integrity and strategic oversight, which could reassure investors about the company’s financial health and governance practices.
Chris Carr brings invaluable retail leadership experience that aligns with Valvoline's core operations as a service provider in the automotive maintenance sector. His previous roles at Sweetgreen and Starbucks display a track record of driving growth through innovation and operational efficiency. This background will likely be instrumental as Valvoline seeks to broaden its service offerings and enhance customer engagement.
The departure of Twinem and Manager, while marking the end of a significant chapter since Valvoline's IPO in 2016, opens the door for new perspectives and strategies in the boardroom. Their contributions have guided Valvoline's evolution into a focused retail services company, and their legacy is one of strong strategic transformation.
As Valvoline embarks on this new phase with an energized board, investors may consider this an opportune time to assess their positions. The potential for enhanced operational excellence and strategic growth initiatives warrant a close watch. Valvoline's commitment to meeting changing customer needs, coupled with robust leadership, positions it favorably in a competitive market. For investors, this is a moment to evaluate Valvoline’s stock, considering both immediate performance and long-term growth prospects.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Janet Wong and Chris Carr bring extensive financial and retail expertise to the Board
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), the quick, easy, trusted leader in preventive automotive maintenance, today announced that Janet S. Wong and Chris Carr have been nominated to stand for election to Valvoline Inc.’s Board of Directors at the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board nominated Janet Wong and Chris Carr to succeed long-time directors, Mary J. Twinem and Vada O. Manager, who have shared their intention to retire from the Board as of the 2026 Annual Meeting. Janet Wong will replace Mary Twinem as the Audit Committee Chair after her election in January.
“We look forward to welcoming both Janet and Chris to Valvoline Inc.’s Board of Directors,” said Richard Freeland, Chairman of the Board. “Each brings decades of senior executive and board experience. Janet’s financial expertise and her background in advising high-growth companies will be invaluable as we continue to deliver sustainable network growth. Chris’s deep retail leadership experience will help guide us as we continue to elevate our industry-leading operational excellence.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would also like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to Mary and Vada who have been exemplary board members during their nine years of service to Valvoline Inc. Since joining the Board at the Company’s IPO in 2016, Mary’s and Vada’s contributions to the Board have helped guide the Company’s strategic transformation to a pure-play retail services company. The Board is grateful for Mary’s leadership as Chair of the Audit Committee and Vada’s leadership as Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee. We will miss Mary and Vada, and wish them the very best in retirement,” said Freeland.
Janet Wong is an experienced business executive, board director and SEC financial expert, and spent the majority of her career as a senior partner at KPMG. Her public accounting and business experience includes financial accounting, internal controls, risk management, cybersecurity and AI oversight, and M&A strategic planning. She currently serves on the board of directors for Lucid Group, Inc., a technology company focused on sustainable mobility and TWFG, Inc., a national independent distribution platform for personal and commercial insurance. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees for the Louisiana Tech University Foundation.
Chris Carr currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for outdoor retailer REI, and is also a board member for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Equity Residential. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Sweetgreen, a fast-casual restaurant chain. He also held various retail and supply chain leadership roles at Starbucks, serving as Executive Vice President, Chief Procurement Officer and Executive Vice President, Americas Licensed Stores. In addition, he is a Trustee for Howard University and the University of San Diego.
“Janet Wong and Chris Carr are excellent additions to our Board of Directors, and I look forward to partnering with them,” said Lori Flees, President and CEO of Valvoline Inc. “Their outstanding track records of driving growth and transformation will be an asset as Valvoline Inc. pursues our strategic priorities to drive the full potential of the core business, deliver sustainable network growth, and innovate to meet the changing needs of the customer and car parc.”
About Valvoline Inc.
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) delivers quick, easy, trusted service at approximately 2,200 franchised and company-operated service centers across the United States and Canada. The company completes more than 30 million services annually system-wide, from about 15-minute stay-in-your-car oil changes to a variety of manufacturer-recommended maintenance services such as wiper replacements and tire rotations. At Valvoline Inc., it all starts with our people, including the over 11,000 team members who are working to grow the core business, expand the Company’s retail network, and plan for the vehicles of the future. For more information, visit vioc.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251119459354/en/
FURTHER INFORMATION
I nvestor Inquiries
Elizabeth B. Clevinger
+1 (859) 357-3155
IR@valvoline.com
Media Inquiries
Angela Davied
+1 (913) 302-0032
media@valvoline.com
FAQ**
How do Janet Wong and Chris Carr's extensive backgrounds in finance and retail specifically align with the strategic goals of Valvoline Inc. VVV as it seeks to enhance its operational excellence?
What specific initiatives will Janet Wong implement as she takes on the role of Audit Committee Chair for Valvoline Inc. VVV after the 20Annual Meeting?
In what ways do the experiences of Chris Carr at REI and Sweetgreen contribute to Valvoline Inc. VVV's plans for growth and innovation in the automotive maintenance sector?
How will the retirement of long-time directors Mary Twinem and Vada Manager impact the future direction and governance of Valvoline Inc. VVV moving forward?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV).
NASDAQ: VVV
VVV Trading
-0.92% G/L:
$33.855 Last:
436,696 Volume:
$33.86 Open:
