Orion S.A. Appoints Industry Veteran Jonathan Puckett as Chief Financial Officer to Drive Next Phase of Growth and Strategic Transformation
Orion S.A., a leading global specialty chemicals company known for its innovation in carbon black and performance materials, announced the appointment of Jonathan “Jon” Puckett as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective December 1, 2025. Puckett will succeed Jeff Glajch, who earlier this year announced his plan to retire at the end of 2025.
This leadership transition marks a significant step in Orion’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial operations and strategic execution as the company continues to expand its global footprint and enhance shareholder value.
A Seasoned Financial Leader Joins Orion
With over three decades of experience in finance, accounting, and strategic management, Jon Puckett brings to Orion a wealth of expertise shaped by a career spanning multiple leadership roles across major industrial and chemical enterprises. His extensive experience in guiding complex, global organizations through periods of transformation and growth positions him ideally to help Orion achieve its next stage of operational excellence.
Before joining Orion, Puckett spent 14 years at Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company. During his tenure, he held a number of progressively senior financial leadership roles, culminating in his position as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Acetyl Chain segment, one of Celanese’s largest and most strategically important business divisions. In that role, Puckett was instrumental in optimizing financial performance, driving cost efficiencies, and supporting strategic capital investments that strengthened Celanese’s competitive position in the global marketplace.
His financial stewardship contributed to the company’s robust growth and operational resilience, particularly amid the volatile global market conditions of recent years. Puckett’s leadership was also pivotal in aligning financial planning with Celanese’s sustainability initiatives and digital transformation efforts — skills that are expected to serve Orion well as it continues to balance profitability with responsible business practices.
A Proven Record Across Multiple Industries
In addition to his tenure at Celanese, Puckett’s career includes senior financial positions at Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), and KPMG LLP. These roles equipped him with a deep understanding of financial controls, risk management, and auditing — all essential competencies for a modern CFO operating in an increasingly complex regulatory and global environment.
His cross-industry experience, spanning technology services and professional consulting, has allowed Puckett to develop a well-rounded perspective on financial governance, digital transformation, and strategic capital deployment. Such experience is expected to play a key role in helping Orion strengthen its financial systems and enhance data-driven decision-making across its operations.
CEO Corning Painter on the Appointment
Commenting on the appointment, Corning Painter, Chief Executive Officer of Orion S.A., expressed confidence in Puckett’s ability to lead the company’s financial function during a pivotal time in its evolution.
“Jon’s broad functional skillset, deep financial expertise, and demonstrated success in helping businesses execute on both financial and strategic goals make him an excellent fit for our company,” Painter said. “As Orion navigates its next phase of growth and profitability, Jon’s leadership will be vital in ensuring that our financial strategy remains tightly aligned with our business priorities and long-term vision.”
Painter further emphasized that Puckett’s hands-on leadership style and track record of driving operational improvement will help Orion deliver consistent financial performance while investing in innovation and sustainability.
A Smooth Transition of Leadership
The appointment follows the previously announced retirement of Jeff Glajch, who has served as Orion’s Chief Financial Officer since 2020. Glajch’s tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including guiding the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting strategic capital investments, and overseeing a series of financial initiatives aimed at improving profitability and shareholder value.
In July 2025, Glajch announced his intention to retire at the end of the year. To ensure continuity and a seamless leadership transition, he will remain a full-time employee through December 31, 2025, and will continue to provide consulting services during the first quarter of 2026. His ongoing support during this handover period will allow Puckett to assume his new responsibilities smoothly while maintaining stability across Orion’s global finance organization.
Painter expressed his gratitude for Glajch’s leadership and contributions to the company, noting that his financial acumen and steady hand have been instrumental in Orion’s success over the past several years.
“Jeff has been an invaluable member of our leadership team,” Painter said. “His disciplined approach to financial management and his commitment to excellence have set a high standard for Orion’s finance organization. We are deeply appreciative of his service and leadership, and we wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Orion’s Focus on Strategic Growth and Financial Strength
The appointment of Jon Puckett comes at an important time for Orion, which continues to advance its strategic transformation as a global specialty chemicals leader. The company has been focused on expanding its product portfolio, enhancing manufacturing efficiency, and investing in sustainable technologies to meet growing demand across key markets, including automotive, coatings, inks, and polymers.
Under its current strategy, Orion has been improving operational efficiency while maintaining strong financial discipline — objectives that align closely with Puckett’s background in financial optimization and business performance management. His experience in the chemical industry, particularly at Celanese, is expected to bring fresh insights into how Orion can further streamline its financial operations, manage capital allocation more effectively, and identify new opportunities for value creation.
Moreover, as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations become increasingly central to corporate decision-making, Orion’s leadership believes that Puckett’s deep understanding of integrating sustainability into financial strategy will strengthen the company’s ability to meet its long-term ESG objectives.
Jon Puckett’s appointment underscores Orion’s commitment to attracting top-tier talent capable of steering the company through the challenges and opportunities of a dynamic global market. His proven ability to balance strategic foresight with operational discipline is expected to complement Orion’s broader growth agenda.
As he prepares to assume his new role, Puckett expressed enthusiasm about joining Orion’s leadership team and contributing to the company’s continued success. While a formal statement from him has not been released, industry observers note that his experience in managing complex financial structures and executing transformative strategies at Celanese aligns closely with Orion’s ambitions for the coming years.
Orion S.A. is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a key ingredient in a wide range of industrial and consumer products. The company’s products play an essential role in improving the performance of tires, coatings, inks, batteries, and plastics. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Orion operates a network of production sites and innovation centers worldwide, serving customers across more than 40 countries.
With a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, Orion continues to invest in research and development to deliver advanced carbon materials that enable customers to meet the evolving demands of performance, safety, and environmental responsibility.
