Personnel

WM CFO to retire

WM, Houston, has announced that its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Devina Rankin plans to retire.

After nearly 23 years with the company, WM says Rankin has decided to focus on her long-standing passions of education and nonprofit service. She will transition from the CFO role this November and remain with WM as an executive advisor through March 2026 to ensure an effective transition.

“Devina has been an invaluable contributor to WM’s successes over the years, whether it be collaborating to deliver impressive financial results or evolving our strategy and culture to focus on growth, technology, sustainability and our core values,” WM CEO Jim Fish says. “As a passionate, driven and people-centric leader, she has played an incredibly important role on WM’s senior leadership team since becoming CFO in 2017. Devina’s eight-and-a-half years with me as CFO and CEO have been hugely impactful to me, to our company and to our shareholders. I know Devina is excited to take this next big step in her life, and I have no doubt that she will be successful.”

David Reed will succeed Rankin as executive vice president and CFO. Reed, who has been with the company for eight years, is vice president and business partner for WM’s West Tier operations. Before that, he served as the company’s vice president and treasurer.

WM says Reed brings extensive finance and leadership experience to his new role with the company. Reed has a professional background that includes experience in investment banking, investor relations, corporate finance and more.

“David is a well-respected leader known for his strategic thinking, discipline and partnership,” Fish says. “He has been a valuable member of the WM finance and operations teams, and we are confident in his ability to scale his impact as we focus on WM’s long-term growth.”

Biomedical Waste Services appoints new CEO

Biomedical Waste Services Inc. (BWS)of Baltimore has appointed Trey Krell as CEO, effective immediately. He assumes the role as BWS’ founder and President Ray Krell retires after more than 50 years in the waste management industry. 

Formerly the company’s vice president, Trey Krell will lead its strategic vision, emphasizing innovation, environmental sustainability and customer service while driving expansion throughout the mid-Atlantic region and overseeing all aspects of the business. 

“Trey has consistently demonstrated the vision, dedication and innovative thinking necessary to not only maintain our high standards but to elevate them,” Ray Krell says.

“I am deeply honored to assume this leadership role and continue the legacy my father built,” Trey Krell says. “Our focus remains on providing reliable, compliant and sustainable solutions for our customers while continuing to innovate in this critical industry.” 

RCI names new chief operations officer

The Recycling Certification Institute (RCI), based in Sacramento, California, has named Randy Wolf its new chief operations officer.

Wolf spent more than two decades working for the former Balcones Fuel Technology business unit of Austin, Texas-based Balcones Resources from 1999 to 2021. The subsidiary operated a plant in Arkansas that converted hard-to-recycle industrial and commercial materials into engineered fuel cubes.

Subsequently, Wolf has worked on other projects and in other positions related to solid waste and construction and demolition materials diversion and energy conversion efforts.

“Randy’s many years of passion for educating on the benefits of recycling and diversion made his appointment unanimous among the board members,” RCI Board of Governance President John Thomas says in a Sept. 2 LinkedIn post announcing Wolf’s appointment. “As RCI reaches a broader base as the only recognized third-party verification facilitator in North America, Randy’s ability to understand the importance of verifiable recycling rates makes him the perfect person to lead RCI for years to come.”

Circular Action Alliance appoints new executive director in California

Emily Coven has been appointed California executive director for the Circular Action Alliance (CAA), based in Washington.

A 30-year resident of the state, Coven brings a deep understanding of California’s waste and recycling systems to the role, CAA says. 

She replaces Rachel Wagoner, who was appointed in December 2024.

Coven will oversee the development and execution of CAA’s extended producer responsibility program plan for California under Senate Bill 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

Coven is the founder and former CEO of Recyclist, a software company that supported the implementation of landmark recycling and organics legislation in California.

“I am honored to join the CAA team and lead this critical work,” Coven says. “I look forward to engaging directly with interest holders and communities across California to build a system that delivers meaningful results for Californians.”