Casella Waste hires new chief financial officer

Casella Waste Systems Inc., Rutland, Vermont, has hired Bradford J. Helgeson as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). He will replace Edmond “Ned” R. Coletta, effective Nov. 6, as CFO. Coletta will remain president of Casella Waste.

“Ned has been instrumental to our success over the last 11 years in his role as CFO, and since assuming the role of president on July 1, 2022, he has helped to accelerate our growth strategy and strengthen our foundational pillars,” says John W. Casella, board chair and CEO of Casella Waste.

“As part of our succession planning, it is exciting to see Ned shift his complete focus to the president’s role. Under his continued leadership, I remain confident about the company’s ability to profitably grow and drive further shareholder value.

Helgeson previously served as executive vice president and CFO of New Jersey-based waste-to-energy plant operator Covanta Holding Corp. That firm was fully acquired by the EQT Infrastructure V fund, based in Sweden, in 2021.

“Brad has been a well-respected finance executive in the solid waste industry for many years and we believe that his experience, values and leadership style will fit well with our team," John Casella says.

“Brad brings extensive solid waste corporate finance, treasury and operational experience to Casella after serving in the same role at publicly traded environmental solutions business. His relevant experience will complement our team and will help us continue executing against our growth strategy.”

Casella’s new CFO was employed at Covanta for more than eight years, from 2013 until 2022.

Before working for Covanta, Helgeson started in the environmental services industry as a vice president at Waste Services Inc. from 2004 to 2007. That hauling firm was acquired by Canada-based Progressive Waste Solutions in 2010, which itself merged with Waste Connections Inc. in 2016.

Prior to working in the waste sector, Helgeson undertook an investment banking career from 1998 to 2004.

Casella Waste describes itself as a provider of resource management services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional and industrial customers, including collection, disposal, transfer, recycling and organics management services, in the Eastern United States. 

Helgeson was introduced to Casella Waste Systems through Tyler Frisbie, president of executive search firm Frisbie Search Partners Inc., DBA GRN McKinney, McKinney, Texas.