Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment
of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) On March 9, 2009, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") appointed George T. Henning, Jr. as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective 5:00pm Eastern Time on March 16, 2009.

Mr. Henning, aged 67, has been retired since 2001. During his retirement, Mr. Henning has served on several boards of governmental organizations and he currently serves as an elected trustee of The Pennsylvania State University and as vice chair of its Finance and Property Committee. Mr. Henning has over 35 years experience in capital-intensive industries. Mr. Henning's career has included financial and management positions in the natural gas distribution, mining, chemical and steel industries. Mr. Henning's experience includes numerous positions with Eastern Gas and Fuel Associates, a holding company based in Boston, Massachusetts; the LTV Corporation based in Cleveland, Ohio and its predecessor companies including Lykes Corporation, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation and Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company; and Pioneer Americas Company, a Houston based chemicals company.

Pursuant to an offer letter dated March 5, 2009 (the "Offer Letter"), Mr. Henning will receive an annual base salary of $300,000 and will be eligible for a potential annual bonus as the Board may determine. Mr. Henning will receive the Company's standard director and officer liability coverage and corporate indemnification for all actions taken in his role as Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Henning will also receive the normal Company benefits for which he may be eligible and the Company will pay all reasonable costs directly related to his performance in the position of Interim Chief Financial Officer. A copy of the Offer Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.