Avient Appoints Mike Frank As CEO, Succeeding Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur, Effective Immediately; Reaffirms Q3 And FY26 Guidance
Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT ), a leading provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mike Frank as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Frank, who has served as CEO of UPL Corporation ("UPL") since 2022, succeeds Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur, who has stepped down from his role and will remain in an advisory capacity through December 31, 2026 to help facilitate a seamless transition. In connection with this appointment, the Board has elected Richard H. Fearon, Lead Independent Director, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Frank has a track record of commercializing new technology and driving revenue growth and profitability across a range of executive leadership roles. As CEO of UPL, a leading global agricultural chemical and solutions company operating in more than 130 countries, Mr. Frank transformed operations, setting new standards of efficiency. He delivered resilient growth through a sustained focus on innovation, expanding the product pipeline and overseeing the successful launch of new products. He also spent 25 years at Monsanto in a range of senior leadership roles,
Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT ), a leading provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mike Frank as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Frank, who has served as CEO of UPL Corporation ("UPL") since 2022, succeeds Dr. Ashish K.
Khandpur, who has stepped down from his role and will remain in an advisory capacity through December 31, 2026 to help facilitate a seamless transition. In connection with this appointment, the Board has elected Richard H. Fearon, Lead Independent Director, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Mr.
Frank has a track record of commercializing new technology and driving revenue growth and profitability across a range of executive leadership roles. As CEO of UPL, a leading global agricultural chemical and solutions company operating in more than 130 countries, Mr. Frank transformed operations, setting new standards of efficiency. He delivered resilient growth through a sustained focus on innovation, expanding the product pipeline and overseeing the successful launch of new products.
He also spent 25 years at Monsanto in a range of senior leadership roles, including most recently as global Chief Commercial Officer, followed by several years as CEO of Nutrien Ag Solutions, where he led a major transformational initiative. In connection with this announcement, the Company is also reaffirming its full year and third quarter 2026 financial guidance previously provided on August 6, 2026. In addition, as previously announced, the Company intends to release its third quarter 2026 earnings before the market opens on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. m.
Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.