Personnel

Rubicon CEO steps down

Lexington, Kentucky-based waste and recycling solutions provider Rubicon Technologies Inc. has announced Phil Rodoni has stepped down as CEO of Rubicon and as a member of the company’s board of directors. Osman Ahmed, formerly lead independent director on Rubicon’s board, has been appointed interim CEO.

Rodoni served as Rubicon’s CEO since 2022. Prior to that, he served as the company’s chief technology officer from 2015 to 2022. He came to Rubicon from Esurance, where he was vice president of software development.

“It has been a pleasure leading Rubicon,” Rodoni says. “We have come a long way as an organization, and I remain excited for the company’s future under its new leadership.”

Interim CEO Ahmed served as lead independent director on Rubicon’s board of directors since the fall of 2022. He is a co-founder of New Circle Capital, a structured capital provider to small and midcap companies, and a senior advisor at 10X Capital, a multistrategy technology investment firm.

“Rubicon has made tremendous strides in multiple areas of the business since our public listing, and I am enthusiastic about the value creation opportunity that stands in front of us,” Ahmed says. “I am grateful to the board for putting its trust in me during this period of transition.”

In conjunction with his appointment, Ahmed has stepped down from the board’s audit committee and as lead independent director but will remain as a member of the board.

In May, Rubicon announced the sale of its fleet technology business unit in a deal that included upfront cash of $61.7 million and an earnout consideration of $12.5 million that could become payable in 2024. Rubicon says the sale underscored its commitment to its RubiconConnect product, which serves commercial waste generators from small-sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

SWANA appoints new board members

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has appointed its fiscal year 2025 board of directors, and Tammy Hayes of Boston-based global engineering and construction firm CDM Smith has been named president.

SWANA’s board of directors includes delegates who represent the private sector, technical divisions, young professionals and 13 geographical regions that make up the Silver Spring, Maryland-based organization’s chapter base.

Hayes is a public information specialist in the solid waste management sector and has more than 30 years of experience. She joined CDM Smith in 1983 and became one of the original members of the company’s solid waste practice in 1988. During her career, Hayes has been involved with many public education and outreach projects for cities, counties, agencies and corporations as well as a variety of solid waste research and planning projects.

She has been a SWANA member since 1991 and has served two terms as president of the Florida chapter while currently chairing its conference committee.

“As president, I’m looking forward to advancing SWANA’s strategic plan by emphasizing and supporting its mission and goals,” Hayes says. “I’m excited to help shape the future of our association. We’re working to simplify and modify our policies, practices and systems to serve all our members more efficiently and to offer better experiences for everyone in the solid waste and resource management industry.”

For a full list of those named to SWANA’s 2024 board of directors, visit https://tinyurl.com/2z985vux.

SWANA says that as it looks ahead to future initiatives and projects, the new board members will contribute their insights and leadership to advance its strategic goals and strengthen its position as a leading voice in the solid waste management industry.

“One of the ways we can remain strong is by giving our members great experiences that they’ll go out and share with their colleagues,” Hayes says. “Since conferences are some of the components I’m most passionate about, I hope to work on really strengthening that experience. I consider this to be the pinnacle of my career at a pivotal time for SWANA and I’m excited about helping to shape the future of our association.”

Anaergia names new CEO

Burlington, Ontario-based Anaergia Inc., a provider of anaerobic digestion (AD) and other waste conversion technologies and equipment, has named Assaf Onn as CEO.

Onn had been serving as a member of the board of directors, and his appointment follows a mutual decision by the board and Brett Hodson, who had been CEO prior to Onn’s appointment, to transition to new leadership following the investment of Marny Investissement SA in Anaergia.

“I see great potential in Anaergia’s technologies and global footprint,” Onn says. “The rest of the board, and I, want to move forward and take the necessary steps to advancing Anaergia toward realizing that potential.”

Luxembourg-based holding company Marny announced its $30 million investment this January when Anaergia was struggling to meet its financial obligations. Onn was appointed to the Anaergia board this April, when a second round of Marny financing was provided. Onn has been CEO of Marny since 2008.

Anaergia’s technology offerings include AD, waste separation and biogas designed to turn organic waste into renewable natural gas, fertilizer and water.