Waste Management has named John Morris as its next CEO, effective January 4, 2027, replacing Jim Fish, who announced his retirement after more than a decade leading North America’s largest waste management company. Morris, currently WM’s president, brings over 30 years of industry experience and has been with the company for more than two decades, holding roles ranging from New York City market area general manager to Chief Operating Officer.
Fish, who has led WM since November 2016, advised the company’s Board of Directors of his plan to retire and resign from the board on August 26. During his 10-year tenure, WM’s annual revenue nearly doubled from $13.6 billion in 2016 to $25.2 billion in 2025. The company completed major acquisitions during his leadership, including a $4.6 billion deal for Advanced Disposal in 2020 and a $7.2 billion acquisition of Stericycle in 2024.
Kathleen Mazzarella, chair of WM’s Board, praised Morris as “an exceptional leader with a proven track record of delivering results and advancing WM’s strategy.” She noted that Morris has overseen innovative service delivery enhancements while reducing operating expenses and improving employee satisfaction and safety. Morris previously served as Chief Operating Officer from 2019 and was promoted to President in May 2025, managing executives overseeing sustainability, customer experience, and enterprise strategy.
In his statement, Morris said he is “committed to building on that legacy while strengthening our position for innovation and continued long-term growth,” emphasizing that WM’s foundation of “safety, service, and operational excellence” remains central to the company’s direction. Fish will continue in an advisory capacity through mid-February to support the transition.
The succession follows a broader trend of CEO changes in the waste industry. Casella Waste Systems appointed Ned Coletta as CEO in January 2026, replacing longtime CEO John Casella. Morris’s appointment represents an internal promotion, with Fish endorsing him as “an authentic and remarkable leader whose industry expertise and proven track record of delivering results make him the ideal choice to lead WM into the future.”
Sources
- WM Investor Relations — Official press release announcing Jim Fish’s retirement and John Morris’s appointment as next CEO, with background on Morris’s career and tenure at WM
- Waste Dive — Reporting on the CEO transition, Fish’s decade-long tenure, WM’s revenue growth, major acquisitions under Fish, and context on Morris’s career path and industry experience
- Business Wire — Official announcement with quotes from Kathleen Mazzarella, Jim Fish, and John Morris on the transition and Morris’s leadership philosophy
