Portrait

Richard J. Freeland, Chair of the Board; Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, Cummins Inc.

Mr. Freeland has served as Valvoline's Chair of the Board since January 2022 and as a director of Valvoline since September 2016. He brings to Valvoline’s Board of Directors extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of product development, manufacturing, international operations, and sales and marketing, as well as experience in the automotive and transportation industry. The capstone of his 40-year career with Cummins Inc., a diesel engine and components manufacturer, was serving as President and Chief Operating Officer in his last five year prior to his retirement in October 2019. Prior to that role, Mr. Freeland served as Vice President and President of the Engine Business for Cummins (2010-2014).

Mr. Freeland holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial management from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. In addition, Mr. Freeland has served as a director of Cooper Standard since May 2020 and serves as a member of the strategic advisory board of Embark Trucks since September 2021. From July 2017 to October 2019, he also served as a director of Cummins.

Portrait

Gerald W. Evans, Jr., Retired Chief Executive Officer, Hanesbrands Inc.

Mr. Evans has served as a director of Valvoline since December 2019. He comes to Valvoline’s Board of Directors with extensive experience and knowledge in areas such as consumer products, international operations and global supply chains, government relations, omnichannel expansion, brand development, sales and marketing, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and capital allocation. From 2006 until his retirement in August 2020, Mr. Evans served in numerous senior management roles at Hanesbrands Inc., a leading global marketer of basic apparel.

These roles included Chief Executive Officer (2016-2020); Chief Operating Officer (2013-2016); Co-Chief Operating Officer (2011-2013); Co-Chief Operating Officer, President International (2010 to 2011); President of Hanesbrands’ International Business and Global Supply Chain (2009-2010); President, Global Supply Chain and Asia Business Development (2008-2009); and Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer (2006-2008). Prior to his expansive responsibilities at Hanesbrands, Mr. Evans spent more than 20 years in various leadership positions at Sara Lee Corporation.

Mr. Evans holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. He also served as a director of Hanesbrands Inc. from October 2016 to August 2020.

Chair of the Compensation Committee
Member of the Audit Committee

Portrait

Carol H. Kruse, Former Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at ESPN and Cambia Health Solutions

Ms. Kruse has been a director of Valvoline since December 2018. Recognized as a “transformational CMO,” who knows how to drive and operationalize innovation, Ms. Kruse brings with her to Valvoline’s Board of Directors significant experience in leveraging data, machine learning and artificial intelligence for product design and services to deliver a superior consumer experience, improve engagement and drive significant business value. She also brings skills and expertise in digital marketing, technology platform design and development, as well as consumer acquisition, retention, and engagement through digital, mobile, and social channels. Ms. Kruse served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Cambia Health Solutions from December 2014 to January 2019. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at ESPN from October 2010 until October 2013. In addition, she served as Vice President, Global Digital Marketing, at The Coca-Cola Company from July 2007 until October 2010 and as Coca-Cola’s Vice President, North America Interactive Marketing from August 2001 to July 2007. Prior to such time, Ms. Kruse held co-founding and/or leadership roles within three Silicon Valley start-up companies, including RocketCash LLC, which was acquired by the Coca-Cola Company in 2001.

Ms. Kruse holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Pomona College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. She was named #27 on Fast Company’s annual “Top 100 Most Creative People in Business;” awarded Ad:Tech’s Industry Achievement Award for pioneering contribution in Digital marketing; and awarded MediaPost “All-Star.” She also serves as a director of Think-X, Inc., an early-stage startup, and has served as a director of Unified, Inc., an advertising technology company, including as Chair of its Compensation Committee, from 2014 to July 2020. In addition, Ms. Kruse is involved in non-profit organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of the CMO Club, and as President of the Portland Chapter, and on the Board of Trustees of Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square. Ms. Kruse is also a Venture Partner and Investment Committee member with the Oregon Venture Fund.

Member of the Compensation Committee

Portrait

Vada O. Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manager Global Holding LLC; Chief Strategist & Board Director of Think TRUE

Mr. Manager has been a director of Valvoline since September 2016 and brings with him to Valvoline’s Board of Directors significant experience and knowledge in product sourcing and supply chain strategy; mergers and acquisitions, including Nike’s acquisitions of the Converse and Starter brands; consumer brand/ecommerce strategy, including the iconic Nike and Levi Strauss & Co. brands; and strategic communications and global management. In addition, Mr. Manager brings knowledge of the financial markets as a former investment banker (public finance).

Currently, Mr. Manager is President and Chief Executive Officer of Manager Global Holdings LLC, a position he has held since 2009, and Chief Strategist/Board Director, Think TRUE – a multicultural experiential marketing firm. Manager Global Holdings is a diversified firm with minority investments in hospitality services, real estate, sports products and includes a corporate consulting unit. Previously, Mr. Manager served as the Senior Director of Global Issues Management for Nike, Inc. from 2006 until March 2009, and he held various management positions at Nike and Levi's between 1994 and 2009.

Mr. Manager holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from Arizona State University and performed graduate work at the London School of Economics. In addition, he serves on the board of trustees of Arizona State University and serves on the board of directors for the Helios Education Foundation (Finance Chair), ASU Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Genesis Academy and the Foresight Foundation for Economic Equity. Mr. Manager retains the title of Senior Counsel / International Advisory Council member of APCO Worldwide, where he advised the U.A.E.’s diversification investments in renewable energy while living in-country. Manager is regular panelist on governance for the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and 50/50 Women on Boards. He previously served as a director of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. from 2008 until January 2017, thus was fully engaged in that company’s transformative M&A and the value-creating decision to spin Valvoline in an IPO.

Member of the Audit Committee
Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee

Portrait

Samuel J. Mitchell, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Director

Sam Mitchell was named Chief Executive Officer and Director of Valvoline effective September 2016. He has led the Valvoline business for the past 18 years and over that time has gained extensive knowledge of the Valvoline business and the automotive maintenance products and services markets. As our CEO, Mr. Mitchell has significant experience and knowledge in the areas of executive leadership, business operations, mergers and acquisitions, finance and accounting, manufacturing, safety, risk oversight, and corporate governance.

Mr. Mitchell joined Ashland in 1997 as Director of Marketing for Valvoline’s brand management group. In 1999, he was named Vice President of Marketing, and in 2000, he was named Vice President and General Manager of Valvoline’s do-it-yourself (DIY) retail business. He became President of Valvoline and Vice President of Ashland in 2002. In 2011, Mitchell was named Senior Vice President of Ashland, while retaining his responsibilities for Valvoline. Prior to joining Valvoline, he held brand and category management leadership positions at The Clorox Company for eight years.

A Michigan native, Mr. Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. He also is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. From 2006 to 2012, he served on the board of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. Mr. Mitchell is active in the Lexington community, working with Young Life, Lexington Leadership Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity.

Portrait

Jennifer L. Slater, Vice President and General Manager, Global Heavy Vehicle and Off-Road Business, Sensata

Ms. Slater has served as a director of Valvoline since July 2022. A business executive and global leader with more than 25 years of experience, she brings to Valvoline’s Board of Directors a broad range of expertise, including general management, engineering, finance, sales, product management and strategy. In addition, Ms. Slater brings extensive knowledge of the automotive industry transition including its ongoing transition into the world of electrification. Since 2008, she has worked in various roles focused on emerging vehicle electrification, both in Automotive and Heavy Vehicle applications. Since 2022, as Vice President and General Manager, Global Heavy Vehicle and Off-Road Business with Sensata, she has had responsibility for managing the P&L for the full business segment, while defining the strategy and growth to support customers with solutions to meet their emerging needs. Sensata is a publicly traded industrial technology company striving to create a cleaner, more efficient, electrified and connected world, across multiple business segments, including Automotive with a strong focus on electrification. In her previous role as Group Vice President and General Manager, Global Original Equipment and Products at Clarios, which manufactures and distributes advanced energy storage solutions for the automotive market, her focus was to transform the business to meet Global Automotive needs to meet emerging vehicle electrification and autonomy needs. In this role, she was responsible for leading a global business for the Original Equipment customers and for developing and executing global new product strategies for the entire product life cycle, including Aftermarket. From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Slater served as Vice President and General Manager OE, Americas and APAC. Prior to joining Clarios, Ms. Slater served in various leadership capacities at Johnson Controls and Woodbridge from 2005 to 2016.

Ms. Slater holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan at Dearborn and a Master of Business Administration from Walsh College. She is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Ms. Slater was a 2017 STEP Ahead winner, that recognizes Women in Manufacturing by the Manufacturing Institute.  She also is a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Hospital research. Ms. Slater served previously as a Board Member at Curative Care, a leading community resource that provides high-quality services to children and adults with disabilities or limiting conditions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Member of the Compensation Committee
Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

Portrait

Charles M. Sonsteby, Retired Vice Chairman, The Michaels Companies

Mr. Sonsteby has been a director at Valvoline since September 2016 and brings with him to Valvoline’s Board of Directors extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of consumer wholesale, high growth retail (branded and private brand experience) /restaurant and franchise operations (lead international franchise operations expansion into 28 countries while at EAT, sold company owned/ purchased franchise restaurants as part of a strategic decision company% vs franchise), digital strategy (lead the launch of Michaels e-commerce site, led IT ) capital markets -corporate reorganizations - including stock offerings (took MIK public/ VVV spin/, Zale’s reorg with Golden Gate, numerous acquisitions/ dispositions of brands/companies at MIK, Brinker, Zale’s ; DRI spin off of Four Corners REIT in non-taxable transaction), mergers/acquisition and divestitures, debt financings and refinancing; dividend vs share repurchase analysis for shareholder value, international and domestic supply chain strategy and operations, (led Supply chain at MIK, a top 10 US importer), as well as - internal audit functions, tax, treasury and investor relations. Mr. Sonsteby is a retired Vice Chairman of The Michaels Companies, where he served in that role from June 2016 until his retirement in October 2017. Previously, he served as The Michaels Companies’ Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer from October 2010 to August 2016. He was CFO of Brinker International Inc. from 2001 until October 2010 and held various other positions since joining Brinker in 1990.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Kentucky. In addition, Mr. Sonsteby has served as a director of Darden Restaurants since 2014 and Lead director since December 2020, and served as Chairman of its board from April 2016 to December 2020. In addition, he is a former director of Zale Corporation. Mr. Sonsteby also is a member of the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Child Care Group of Dallas and the Town North YMCA.

Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

Portrait

Mary J. Twinem, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.

Ms. Twinem has been a director at Valvoline since September 2016, bringing to Valvoline’s Board of Director significant experience and knowledge in the areas of accounting, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and supply chain. She brings significant franchise operations experience gained from her more than 20 years of service at Buffalo Wild Wings, which was one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the United States during that time. Ms. Twinem is a retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the restaurant chain, where she served from July 1996 until her retirement in February 2016. Previously, she served as the company’s controller from 1995 to 1996.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and is a certified public accountant (inactive). In addition, Ms. Twinem has served as a trustee of Centerspace (CSR) since February 2018 and has served as Chair of its Audit Committee since 2020 and is a member of its compensation committee since 2021. In addition, Ms. Twinem has been a director of Medica Holdings Company since 2015 and has served as Chair of its Finance Committee since 2021, served as Chair of its Audit Committee from 2016 to 2021, and is a member of its Consumer Experience Committee since 2021.

Chair of the Audit Committee

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