Sean Gillen has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IDEX Corporation, with the appointment taking effect on January 5, 2026. Gillen joins the company after nearly seven years as CFO of AAR Corp., where he led portfolio discipline, capital deployment and M&A execution in a large industrial business. The announcement was made on December 4, 2025, and follows the departure of interim CFO Akhil Mahendra, who will return to his role as Vice President of Corporate Development.
IDEX’s most recent quarterly results, released in the third quarter of 2025, showed adjusted earnings of $2.03 per share and revenue of $878.7 million, both beating analyst expectations. The company narrowed its full‑year 2025 earnings guidance to $7.86‑$7.91 per share, reflecting confidence in continued profitability. Gillen’s arrival comes at a time when IDEX is executing a disciplined 80/20 strategy, focusing on high‑margin, high‑growth businesses while divesting lower‑margin units.
Gillen’s background at AAR, where he managed a portfolio of industrial businesses and drove multiple acquisitions, aligns closely with IDEX’s growth strategy. His experience in capital allocation and M&A advisory will support the company’s ongoing pursuit of strategic acquisitions, such as the recent purchase of Mott Corporation, and help maintain the 80/20 balance between core and growth segments.
The appointment is expected to reinforce performance across IDEX’s three key segments. In Health & Science Technologies, the company has seen robust demand for laboratory and analytical equipment; in Fluid & Metering Technologies, it benefits from steady industrial and process‑automation sales; and in Fire & Safety/Diversified Products, it continues to grow through niche safety solutions. Gillen’s focus on portfolio discipline should help optimize capital deployment in each segment, ensuring that high‑growth opportunities receive the necessary resources while lower‑margin units are evaluated for divestiture or restructuring.
CEO Eric Ashleman praised Gillen’s track record, noting that he “has a demonstrated track record of driving profitable growth, operational execution, and disciplined capital allocation, and brings a decade of M&A advisory experience within the industrial sector.” Ashleman added that Gillen’s expertise will be instrumental in sustaining IDEX’s disciplined approach and accelerating growth initiatives across all segments.
The CFO transition represents a significant governance update for IDEX. With Mahendra returning to corporate development, the company maintains continuity in its M&A and capital‑allocation functions. Gillen’s appointment signals management’s confidence in the company’s strategic direction and its ability to execute disciplined financial stewardship while pursuing growth opportunities.
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