Avient Taps Veteran Insider Joe Di Salvo for CFO, Signals Continuity

CLEVELAND, OH – April 27, 2026 – Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), a global innovator in specialized and sustainable material solutions, today announced a key leadership transition, promoting long-time executive Giuseppe (Joe) Di Salvo to the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The appointment will be effective June 1, 2026.

Mr. Di Salvo will succeed Jamie A. Beggs, who has served as the company's CFO since August 2020. Ms. Beggs is set to depart the company on the same date to pursue other professional opportunities. The move is a clear signal of the company's confidence in its internal talent pipeline and its commitment to maintaining strategic and financial continuity.

A Strategy of Stability

The promotion of a nearly 15-year company veteran to one of its most critical executive roles underscores a strategy focused on stability and deep institutional knowledge. In a statement, Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Avient, emphasized the value of Di Salvo's extensive experience within the organization.

"We are pleased to promote Joe from within the organization to this important role and to our executive leadership team," said Dr. Khandpur. "Joe's deep institutional knowledge, strong relationships within the company and with our investors, and consistent delivery of results make him exceptionally well suited to lead our finance organization as we execute our strategy. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Joe to deliver value to all our stakeholders."

This internal succession is often viewed favorably by investors, as it minimizes disruption and ensures the new financial chief is already intimately familiar with the company's operations, culture, and long-term goals. The company also noted in its official filings that the departure of Ms. Beggs was not the result of any disagreements regarding Avient's operations or policies, reinforcing the narrative of a smooth and planned transition.

A Journey Through Avient's Ranks

Mr. Di Salvo's career at Avient is a testament to professional growth within a single organization. With 25 years of total financial experience, his journey has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the company's financial engine. He began his career as a certified public accountant at Deloitte after graduating from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

His tenure at Avient began in 2011 as an Assistant Controller. From there, he progressed through roles of increasing responsibility, including serving as Director of Finance for the Global Color, Additives & Inks business segment. In 2013, he was named Corporate Controller, a position he held for five years before being appointed Vice President of Investor Relations in 2018. A year later, his responsibilities expanded significantly to include leadership of the Treasury and Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) departments.

In this most recent capacity, Di Salvo was the primary liaison to Avient's shareholders while also managing the company's capital structure, cash management, and capital markets transactions. This multifaceted background gives him a unique 360-degree view of the company's financial landscape, from internal controls to external investor communications.

"I'm honored to step into this role and energized by the opportunity to drive an even greater impact," Mr. Di Salvo stated. "I have deep confidence in Avient and the strategy we are executing, and I look forward to continuing to support the company's long-term growth and success."

Inheriting a Strong Financial Position

Di Salvo takes the financial helm at a time of notable strength and positive momentum for Avient. The company's full-year 2025 financial results, reported in February 2026, painted a picture of resilience and strategic execution. Avient posted a 1% increase in sales to $3.26 billion and a 6% growth in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to $2.82. The company also generated a robust $302 million in operating cash flow and successfully reduced its debt by $150 million, improving its net leverage ratio from 3.1x to 2.6x.

Furthermore, Avient achieved a record-high adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.7% for the full year 2025, a key indicator of profitability and operational efficiency. This performance was capped by a strong fourth quarter that surpassed analyst expectations.

The outlook for 2026 remains optimistic. The company has projected full-year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $2.93 to $3.17, which would represent growth of 4% to 12% over the prior year. This forecast is underpinned by a strategy focused on a profitable product mix, cost discipline, and a portfolio increasingly weighted toward less cyclical end markets, which now comprise nearly 65% of Avient's business.

Navigating a Dynamic Materials Market

As CFO, Di Salvo will be tasked with navigating a complex and evolving global materials industry. Key trends shaping the sector include a powerful push toward sustainability and circularity, intense demand for high-performance materials in sectors like healthcare and telecommunications, and rapid innovation in areas such as non-PFAS technologies.

Avient has been actively shaping its portfolio to align with these trends, prioritizing specialty polymers and high-performance, sustainable solutions. The company's commitment to maintaining R&D spending at or above 2.2% of sales is central to this innovation-led strategy.

Market analysts have taken note of Avient's position, though their views present a nuanced picture. Following the strong 2025 results, Oppenheimer raised its price target on AVNT stock to $47, maintaining an "Outperform" rating. Morgan Stanley also increased its price target to $52. However, KeyBanc recently downgraded the stock to "Sector Weight," citing concerns over potential margin pressure from rising raw material costs and the risk of a lag in price-to-cost adjustments.

Di Salvo's deep experience in financial planning and investor relations will be critical in communicating Avient's strategy to navigate these challenges while capitalizing on growth opportunities. His promotion ensures that a leader with a profound understanding of the company's financial drivers and strategic priorities is in place to guide it through its next chapter.