ATI Strengthens Leadership Bench with Aerospace Board Appointments as CFO Announces Retirement

ATI Inc. (NYSE: ATI) is making significant leadership moves aimed at reinforcing its position in the aerospace and defense supply chain while preparing for a key financial transition. The company has appointed two veteran aerospace executives, Elizabeth Lund and Jean Lydon-Rodgers, to its Board of Directors, effective November 1, 2025, and announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Don Newman will retire on March 1, 2026.

Aerospace Expertise Added to the Board

Elizabeth Lund brings more than three decades of operational and quality leadership from Boeing, where she oversaw major production turnarounds, enterprise-wide safety reforms, and global supply chain management spanning 3,000 suppliers in 41 countries. Her experience in driving delivery performance and implementing rigorous quality systems aligns closely with ATI’s role as a high-performance materials supplier to next-generation aerospace platforms.

Jean Lydon-Rodgers, former President and CEO of GE Aviation Services and GE Aviation Military Systems, adds deep expertise in propulsion systems, aftermarket services, and military aviation programs. She has managed multi-billion-dollar service portfolios, secured major defense contracts, and built strategic partnerships across the global MRO landscape.

ATI Executive Chairman Robert S. Wetherbee said both leaders bring “proven records of operational excellence, growth, and supply chain expertise” that will help guide ATI’s strategy in aerospace and defense.

CFO Transition and Financial Continuity

Alongside these board appointments, ATI announced that CFO Don Newman will retire after six years with the company. Since joining in 2020, Newman has been credited with strengthening ATI’s balance sheet, optimizing its capital structure, and supporting the company’s transformation into a majority aerospace and defense business. He will remain in his role until March 2026 and then serve in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition.

Rob Foster, ATI’s Vice President of Financial and Operating Strategies and former President of Specialty Alloys & Components, will lead development of the company’s 2026 financial plan during the search for Newman’s successor. ATI has engaged an executive search firm to identify candidates with strong operational finance backgrounds in complex industrial or aerospace environments.

Strategic Context for Aerospace Stakeholders

These leadership changes come as ATI continues to expand its role in supplying advanced materials for commercial and defense aerospace programs. The addition of board members with deep OEM and propulsion expertise signals a focus on strengthening relationships across the airframe and engine supply chains, while the CFO transition underscores the company’s intent to maintain financial discipline during its growth phase.

For aerospace industry observers, the moves suggest ATI is aligning governance, operational insight, and financial leadership to support both near-term execution and long-term positioning in an increasingly competitive global market.