WM named Tara Hemmer chief operating officer and said Rafael Carrasco will retire in July, marking a leadership shift that comes after years of expansion in the company’s sustainability and healthcare businesses.
Hemmer, who has been with WM since 1999, is moving up from chief sustainability officer to executive vice president and COO. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s operating platform while continuing to lead recycling, renewable energy and advisory services.
The company tied her promotion to a period of growth in its sustainability footprint. Over the last five years, WM said Hemmer helped expand the asset network with 14 new renewable natural gas sites and 37 recycling facilities equipped with new technology.
WM said Hemmer’s career at the company has spanned 27 years and included roles as senior vice president of field operations, senior vice president of operations, safety and environmental compliance, vice president of disposal operations and area vice president for the greater mid-Atlantic region.
Carrasco, WM’s senior vice president of enterprise strategy and president of WM Healthcare Solutions, is retiring in July after 10 years with the company. WM said his leadership helped guide the Stericycle business and its integration, and that the medical waste and Shred-it businesses now have a stronger base for growth.
With Carrasco’s retirement, WM Healthcare Solutions will report directly to President John Morris.
WM also highlighted the size of its workforce, saying Hemmer will lead an operations organization that includes more than 47,000 frontline employees. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved -0.91% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $215.66. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.
