Valvoline CEO and leadership

Sam Mitchell was named chief executive officer and director of Valvoline in September 2016.

Mitchell joined Valvoline, then a division of Ashland Inc., in 1997 as director of marketing for Valvoline’s brand management group. In 1999, he was named vice president of marketing, and in 2000, 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.

Mitchell serves on the board of trustees of Transylvania University and on 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. Mitchell is active in the community, working with Young Life, the Lexington Leadership Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

A Michigan native, Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Miami University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Experienced Chief Financial Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and consumer goods industries. Skilled in Capital Allocation, Investor Relations, Budgeting, Planning and Analysis, Accounting, Tax, Risk, Strategy, Team Building, and Management.

Christopher R. Mottet is a Chief Audit Executive at Valvoline.

Business leader with 15+ years in general management, brand management, innovation and advertising. Significant experience in both innovation and P&L roles, including global positions in highly matrixed organizations.

Specialties: P&L management, innovation, strategic planning, brand management, business turnarounds, people development, change management, advertising

Jonathan Caldwell is a SVP, Chief People Officer at Valvoline and is based in Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky. He has worked as VP, Senior HR Business Partner (Corporate) at FIFTH THIRD BANCORP; VP, Senior HR Business Partner (Regional) at FIFTH THIRD BANCORP; and VP & Director, Talent Management and Development at FIFTH THIRD BANCORP. Jonathan attended Xavier University between 2001 and 2004, Eastern Kentucky University between 1995 and 1999, and Gamma Beta Phi Society until 1999.

Julie O’Daniel was named chief legal officer and corporate secretary in September 2016 and senior vice president in January 2017. She is responsible for managing Valvoline’s legal and corporate governance matters and oversees Valvoline’s security team and environmental, health and safety group.

She has served as lead commercial council for Valvoline and been part of the Valvoline leadership team since October 2012. She joined Ashland, Valvoline’s former parent company, in 2007 as senior counsel, managing complex litigation matters across Ashland’s business units.

Previously, O’Daniel was a partner at the law firm of Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta, where she advised in the areas of securities litigation, mergers and acquisitions-related litigation, governmental investigations and other corporate matters.

O’Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Eastern Kentucky University and earned her J.D. from the University of Kentucky.

Fortune 500, C-Level Executive with extensive financial, operational and leadership experience in a wide spectrum of industries including consumer packaged goods, industrials, building products, manufacturing, distribution, retail and telecom. Strategic thinker and change agent with proven track record of delivering critical leadership and significant cost savings in highly transitional business climates including three successful IPOs, M&A, private equity, carve-out/start-up and significant downsizing. Relationship builder who excels at recruiting, developing and retaining top talent. Graduate of University of Notre Dame (BBA) and Emory University (MBA). CPA with extensive Big 4 (KPMG) and international experience, including a 2-year secondment in London.

Sam Mitchell was named chief executive officer and director of Valvoline in September 2016.

Mitchell joined Valvoline, then a division of Ashland Inc., in 1997 as director of marketing for Valvoline’s brand management group. In 1999, he was named vice president of marketing, and in 2000, 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.

Mitchell serves on the board of trustees of Transylvania University and on 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. Mitchell is active in the community, working with Young Life, the Lexington Leadership Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

A Michigan native, Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Miami University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Christopher R. Mottet is a Chief Audit Executive at Valvoline.

Fortune 500, C-Level Executive with extensive financial, operational and leadership experience in a wide spectrum of industries including consumer packaged goods, industrials, building products, manufacturing, distribution, retail and telecom. Strategic thinker and change agent with proven track record of delivering critical leadership and significant cost savings in highly transitional business climates including three successful IPOs, M&A, private equity, carve-out/start-up and significant downsizing. Relationship builder who excels at recruiting, developing and retaining top talent. Graduate of University of Notre Dame (BBA) and Emory University (MBA). CPA with extensive Big 4 (KPMG) and international experience, including a 2-year secondment in London.