Charles M. Sonsteby

Director at Valvoline

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.

Timeline

  • Director

    Current role