Personnel

Mittelstaedt back as CEO, president of Waste Connections

Waste Connections Inc. has named Executive Chairman Ronald J. Mittelstaedt as its president and CEO, effective April 23. 

Mittelstaedt, Waste Connections’ founder, served as CEO from 1997 to 2019. He succeeds Worthing F. Jackman, who stepped down as a member of the Canada-based company’s board of directors and withdrew as a nominee for election as a director at the company’s 2023 annual shareholders meeting.

During an April 23 call to discuss the change, Mittelstaedt said the board’s decision is a “proactive” one, considered over time. “Nothing is floundering, particularly with regard to culture,” he said. “This is a proactive decision that the board made to make sure that we don’t develop cracks in the foundation of the culture and the operating structure of the company because once you do, they’re hard to fix.”

Part of the board’s rationale for the change, which Mittelstaedt said is not abrupt but may appear so from outside the company, is the need to provide greater focus on people and operations.

“The people that we think of in all the critical roles on a go-forward basis are the same people that are in place today, but, you know, I think the board did feel that I might be a little more suited at this point in time to develop those people for the next generation,” he said during the call.

After serving as CEO for 18 years, Mittelstaedt transitioned in 2019 to the position of executive chairman of the board of directors. While serving again as CEO, Mittelstaedt will remain on the board of directors but will no longer serve as executive chairman.

Concurrent with this change, lead independent director, Michael W. Harlan, was named chairman of the board in a nonexecutive capacity.

“We thank Worthing for his work and dedication on behalf of Waste Connections for the last 19 years, including the last four as CEO,” Mittelstaedt said. “These last four years, with the pandemic and hyperinflation, have been challenging for leadership in all industries, and Worthing has done a yeoman’s job in leading us through this period. We are grateful for all that Worthing has done for the company, its stakeholders and the communities that we serve. His extensive efforts have helped shape the company we are today, and we all wish him well in his future endeavors.”

In conjunction with this announcement, Mittelstaedt said Waste Connections is reaffirming its 2023 full-year financial outlook as stated in February.

Because he has remained with the company as its executive chairman since 2019, Mittelstaedt said a transition period is not needed. “The necessity for a long transition is less than [with] someone who had been with the company since its inception—in a different role, granted, but very up to speed on many things that were going on at all times through our team and through Worthing.”

Waste Connections has grown in recent years to serve more than 8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in the U.S. and Canada.

Bomag Americas names new president

Bomag Americas, Ridgeway, South Carolina, has announced that Brian Bieller was selected as the new president of North American operations, effective March 10. 

Bieller’s experience in road construction equipment started in high school while working for a dealer. He has remained in the industry for 28 years, including in his most recent position as president and CEO of LeeBoy Inc., Lincolnton, North Carolina. There, he was responsible for managing all functions of the organization, including manufacturing operations.

Prior to his tenure with LeeBoy, Bieller served as president and regional general manager, North America, for Dynapac, which is based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Both Bomag and Dynapac are Fayat Group companies. With his experience leading successful teams and his direct knowledge of Bomag products and markets, Bomag says Bieller is well-positioned to make a positive impact on both Bomag Americas position in the market and internal team culture.

“We are happy to have Brian rejoin the Fayat Group in this new role, and we wish him success as he leads Bomag Americas into the next season of growth and profitability,” Junker says.

Bomag manufactures asphalt pavers and milling machines, reclaimer/stabilizers, single-drum and tandem vibratory rollers, pneumatic tire rollers, landfill compactors and a full range of light compaction equipment. The company is supported by a global network of more than 400 dealers.