WM (Waste Management, Inc.) has appointed President John Morris as its next president and chief executive officer, succeeding Jim Fish, who plans to retire in January 2027. The planned transition follows WM’s established succession process and places an experienced internal executive with operational and strategic leadership experience at the company’s helm.
Key Takeaways
- Jim Fish plans to retire as WM CEO and resign from the company’s board.
- John Morris will become president and CEO on January 4, 2027.
- Morris will also join WM’s Board of Directors.
- Morris has held senior roles including chief operating officer and chief strategy officer.
- Fish has served as WM’s CEO since 2016 and has been with the company for more than 25 years.
Jim Fish Announces Retirement From WM Leadership
Jim Fish has advised WM’s Board of Directors that he plans to retire from the company and resign from the board after more than a decade as CEO and more than 25 years with WM.
Fish has served as WM’s chief executive officer since 2016. His retirement will end a decade-long period in the role, while his departure from the board will accompany the leadership change.
The company has identified January 4, 2027, as the effective date for the transition. Fish will remain CEO until that date, after which John Morris will assume the company’s top executive position.
The retirement is being handled through WM’s existing succession process rather than through an immediate change in leadership. The board has already selected Morris as Fish’s successor.
Fish’s tenure as CEO has therefore been followed by a defined handoff period rather than an abrupt vacancy. The planned timing gives the company a specific date for the change in executive leadership.
John Morris Named President and Chief Executive Officer
John Morris, currently WM’s president, has been appointed to become president and chief executive officer on January 4, 2027. He will also join WM’s Board of Directors when he takes the CEO role.
Morris is an internal successor with experience in several senior positions at WM. His previous responsibilities have included chief operating officer and chief strategy officer roles, along with senior field and market-area leadership positions.
The appointment places an executive already familiar with WM’s operations, strategy and organization in the CEO position. Morris has held responsibilities across different parts of the company before becoming president.
His promotion also provides continuity between his current responsibilities and his future role. Morris is moving from an existing senior leadership position into the top executive role.
The succession plan establishes a direct leadership progression from president to president and CEO. Fish will continue as CEO until the January transition date.
Morris will also move from executive leadership into combined executive and board responsibilities. His appointment to the board is tied to his assumption of the CEO position.
For companies preparing similar leadership changes, CEO succession planning can involve developing potential successors before a chief executive leaves the role.
Morris Brings Extensive WM Leadership Experience
Morris has held multiple leadership positions at WM during his career with the company. Those roles include Market Area General Manager of New York City, Area Vice President of the Greater Mid-Atlantic Area, Chief Strategy Officer, Senior Vice President of Field Operations and Chief Operating Officer.
His experience spans both operational and strategic responsibilities. The combination of those positions has placed Morris in roles involving field operations, corporate strategy and broader company management.
Before becoming the next CEO, Morris served as WM’s president. That position placed him among the company’s senior leadership before the board selected him to succeed Fish.
His previous role as chief operating officer adds operational experience to his leadership background. His earlier position as chief strategy officer connects his experience to the company’s strategic responsibilities.
Morris also has experience in market-area management, beginning with leadership of New York City operations and later serving as area vice president for the Greater Mid-Atlantic Area. Those positions preceded his corporate-level executive roles.
The board selected Morris after his progression through multiple management responsibilities at WM. His career includes field operations, market-area management, corporate strategy, chief operating officer responsibilities and the presidency.
Morris is a graduate of Rutgers University.
WM Board Cites Morris’ Operational and Strategic Record
WM’s Board of Directors cited Morris’ leadership record when announcing his appointment. Board Chair Kathleen Mazzarella described him as an exceptional leader with a record of delivering results and advancing WM’s strategy.
Mazzarella also cited Morris’ more than three decades of industry experience and his understanding of WM’s business, culture and opportunities.
According to Mazzarella, Morris has overseen service delivery intended to improve customer experience while reducing operating expenses. She also said those efforts were accompanied by improvements in employee satisfaction, safety and retention.
The board cited service delivery, operating expenses, employee satisfaction, safety and retention when describing Morris’ record.
Mazzarella also described Fish’s leadership since 2016 as a period in which WM achieved growth and strengthened its culture. She credited Fish with a people-first leadership philosophy and said his approach prioritized employees, customers and the business.
Fish has also endorsed Morris as his successor. He described Morris as an authentic leader with industry expertise and a record of delivering results.
Fish said Morris has supported WM’s people, safety, innovation and operational excellence during his career with the company.
Morris has likewise described his appointment as an opportunity to build on WM’s existing foundation of safety, service and operational excellence. He said the company’s people would remain central to its approach under his leadership.
The structure of WM’s transition is similar to other corporate leadership changes in which an established executive moves into the top role, including Paul De Cock’s CEO appointment at Mohawk.
CEO Transition Scheduled for January 2027
The WM CEO succession is scheduled to take effect on January 4, 2027. Morris will assume the president and CEO positions on that date and join WM’s Board of Directors.
Fish will retire from WM and resign from the board as part of the transition. His retirement follows more than 25 years with the company and more than 10 years as CEO.
The scheduled handoff establishes a defined period between the announcement and the change in executive leadership. WM has already identified the incoming CEO, the effective date and the accompanying board change.
Morris’ appointment also preserves an internal leadership path. His prior positions at WM include field operations, market-area management, strategy, chief operating officer responsibilities and the presidency.
The board’s decision places an executive with established company experience in the CEO position while Fish completes his tenure. The two leaders have both publicly addressed the transition, with Fish expressing confidence in Morris and Morris acknowledging the trust placed in him by Fish and the board.
Morris has said he intends to build on WM’s existing foundation while continuing to focus on safety, service and operational excellence. He also identified technology, innovation, long-term growth and WM’s investments in infrastructure as areas connected to the company’s future direction.
The leadership change will become effective in January, when Morris assumes both the CEO position and a seat on WM’s board. Until then, Fish remains CEO while Morris continues serving as president.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the next CEO of WM?
John Morris, currently WM’s president, has been appointed as the company’s next president and chief executive officer. He will succeed Jim Fish.
When will John Morris become CEO of WM?
Morris will become president and CEO on January 4, 2027. He will also join WM’s Board of Directors on that date.
Why is Jim Fish retiring as WM CEO?
Jim Fish has advised WM’s Board of Directors of his plan to retire after more than 25 years with the company and more than a decade as CEO. He will also resign from the board.
How long has Jim Fish served as WM CEO?
Fish has served as WM’s CEO since 2016. His retirement will follow more than 10 years in the role.
What leadership roles has John Morris held at WM?
Morris has served as WM’s president and previously held roles including chief operating officer, chief strategy officer, senior vice president of field operations, area vice president of the Greater Mid-Atlantic Area and Market Area General Manager of New York City.
