AAR Taps Former Strategist Dylan Wolin as CFO to Accelerate Growth

WOOD DALE, IL – February 11, 2026 – AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a global provider of aviation services, has announced the appointment of Dylan Wolin as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective February 23, 2026. The move marks a strategic return for Wolin, who previously spent seven years at the company shaping the very growth strategy he is now tasked with financing and executing, signaling a deliberate effort to ensure continuity while accelerating momentum.

Wolin will oversee a broad portfolio including finance, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations, and corporate development. His return comes at a time of robust performance for AAR, which recently reaffirmed strong financial guidance for the upcoming quarter and full fiscal year.

A Strategic Return to Drive Growth

The appointment is more than a standard executive hire; it's a homecoming for a leader credited with being a primary architect of AAR's current market position. From 2017 to 2024, Wolin led the company's strategic and corporate development, treasury, and investor relations functions. During this critical period, he was at the forefront of a significant portfolio repositioning that has defined AAR's modern trajectory.

John M. Holmes, AAR's Chairman, President, and CEO, emphasized Wolin's foundational contributions in the company's announcement. "I worked very closely with Dylan during his seven years at AAR. He was instrumental in developing the strategy we are executing today," Holmes stated. "I am thrilled he is rejoining our senior leadership team, bringing valuable additional operational and strategic experience."

Two landmark acquisitions during Wolin's previous tenure underscore his strategic impact. The first was the March 2023 acquisition of Trax USA Corp., a leading provider of MRO and fleet management software. This move was a key step in AAR's push to integrate digital solutions into its aftermarket services, adding a high-margin, recurring revenue stream to its portfolio. The second was the monumental $725 million acquisition of Triumph Group's Product Support business, which closed in March 2024. This deal dramatically scaled AAR's repair capabilities, expanded its global footprint—particularly in the Asia-Pacific region—and solidified its position as a comprehensive MRO powerhouse for both commercial and defense clients. Wolin's re-entry into the C-suite suggests AAR intends to continue this aggressive but calculated approach to growth and market consolidation.

Blending Financial Acumen with Operational Experience

Wolin returns to AAR not just with deep institutional knowledge but also with fresh operational experience. For the past two years, he served as President of Elgin, Trackless, and Vactor at Federal Signal Corporation, leading the company's specialty vehicle businesses focused on the municipal sector. This hands-on leadership of distinct business units provides him with a ground-level perspective on operations, a valuable asset for a CFO in the complex aerospace and defense aftermarket.

His background is a powerful blend of high-level strategy and finance. Before his initial tenure at AAR, Wolin was a Director in Boeing's Corporate Development group, where he managed merger, acquisition, and joint venture transactions for the aerospace giant. Prior to that, he honed his financial expertise as a Vice President in Deutsche Bank's Global Industrials Group and at the boutique investment bank McManus & Miles. This combination of investment banking, corporate M&A at an industry titan, and recent operational leadership makes him uniquely suited to navigate the financial challenges and opportunities facing AAR.

In a dynamic industry marked by supply chain complexities, shifting defense budgets, and a recovering commercial aviation market, having a CFO who understands both the balance sheet and the factory floor is a distinct competitive advantage. Wolin's experience suggests he can effectively partner with operational leaders to drive efficiency while simultaneously communicating a compelling long-term value proposition to investors.

Steady Course Amidst Strong Performance

Wolin is rejoining a company that is firing on all cylinders. AAR recently reported stellar second-quarter results for fiscal year 2026, beating both revenue and earnings forecasts with a 16% year-over-year growth in sales. The company's adjusted operating margin has climbed to a healthy 10.2%, reflecting the success of its strategic focus on higher-margin businesses.

In conjunction with Wolin's appointment, AAR reaffirmed its guidance for the third fiscal quarter and the full fiscal year, projecting impressive total sales growth of 20-22% for the quarter and approaching 17% for the year. This public vote of confidence underscores the stability of the company's financial outlook and the board's belief that the current strategy is sound. Wolin's primary mission will be to sustain this momentum and identify new avenues for profitable growth.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Wolin commented on the company's strong position. "AAR's strong team, unique customer value proposition, and exciting additional growth opportunities underscore the Company's compelling future," he said. "I am eager to partner with John and the rest of the AAR team to drive continued execution of AAR's growth strategy."

Leadership Transition and Acknowledging Continuity

The leadership transition is designed to be seamless. Sarah Flanagan, who has served as Interim Chief Financial Officer since December 2025, will return to her role as Vice President, Financial Operations. Flanagan, a veteran of AAR since 2012, provided steady leadership during the transition, steering the company through its successful second-quarter earnings report.

CEO John Holmes extended his gratitude for her contributions, stating, "I would also like to thank Sarah Flanagan for her service as our Interim CFO. Sarah is a deeply valued member of our team, and I am looking forward to her continued leadership in our finance organization." Flanagan's return to her prior role ensures that her extensive experience across AAR's global operations remains a core part of the finance leadership structure, providing a strong foundation for the incoming CFO.

Ultimately, Wolin's appointment appears to be a calculated move to blend the best of both worlds: the stability of an insider who knows the company's DNA and the fresh perspective of an executive who has gained valuable external experience. For AAR, bringing back a key architect of its success is a clear statement of intent to not only continue on its current path but to accelerate the journey.