Casella Waste Systems, Inc. completes CEO transition: President Ned Coletta assumes CEO role
Rhea-AI Summary
Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ: CWST) completed its CEO succession: Edmond R. “Ned” Coletta assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2026 and joined the company’s Board of Directors. Coletta is the company’s second CEO in its 50-year history and has worked at Casella since 2004, including prior roles as CFO and President. John W. Casella will remain as Executive Chairman to support strategic development and stakeholder engagement.
The leadership change emphasizes continuity, long-term strategy execution, and commitments to sustainability, safety, and investing in people and recycling infrastructure.
Positive
- CEO transition effective January 1, 2026
- Ned Coletta joined the Board of Directors upon becoming CEO
- Only the second CEO in Casella’s 50-year history
- Coletta has worked at Casella since 2004 (20+ years)
- John W. Casella to remain as Executive Chairman
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – CWST
On the day this news was published, CWST gained 1.49%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers showed mixed moves: CLH +3.95%, MEG +0.44%, while GFL -0.46%, NVRI -0.72%, WCN -0.43%, suggesting stock-specific factors around the CEO change.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04 | Investor conferences | Positive | +1.4% | Management participation in two Q4 2025 investor conferences signaled active outreach. |
| Oct 30 | Earnings update | Positive | -1.6% | Strong Q3 2025 revenue, earnings and raised guidance contrasted with a negative price move. |
| Oct 13 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +0.1% | Announcement of Q3 2025 results release and conference call scheduling. |
| Aug 28 | Debt financing | Neutral | -1.3% | Pricing of remarketed solid waste disposal revenue bonds with new interest terms. |
| Aug 27 | Sustainability awards | Positive | +0.6% | Recognition of 2025 Sustainability Leadership Award winners for waste reduction efforts. |
Recent news has generally seen modest price reactions, with strong earnings sometimes met by short‑term weakness while non‑financial updates and recognition events often aligned with small positive moves.
Over the last six months, Casella reported stronger Q3 2025 results on Oct 30, 2025, including higher revenue and net income, but the stock moved -1.58% the next day. Bond remarketing and sustainability recognition news in late August saw smaller moves between -1.34% and +0.62%. Investor conference participation in November coincided with a +1.39% reaction. Against this backdrop, the CEO transition continues a narrative of operational growth, capital markets activity, and sustainability leadership.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details an orderly CEO transition, with Ned Coletta becoming only the second CEO in Casella’s 50‑year history and joining the Board effective January 1, 2026. His long tenure and prior roles as CFO and President emphasize continuity in strategy, including sustainability and operational discipline. In light of recent strong Q3 2025 results and continued expansion activity, investors may watch how leadership balances growth, capital deployment, and culture under the new structure.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
RUTLAND, Vt., Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today announced the successful completion of its CEO succession plan. Edmond R. “Ned” Coletta has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and joined the Company’s Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. This milestone marks a historic moment for Casella, as Coletta becomes only the second CEO in the company’s 50-year history.
“I’m honored to lead Casella into its next chapter,” said Coletta. “Our focus is clear: execute against our long-term strategy and strengthen our foundation for future growth, with a focus on investing in our people and fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and accountability. These fundamentals will drive continued growth and deliver lasting value for our customers, shareholders, and communities.”
Coletta brings over two decades of experience with Casella, joining the company in 2004. He has served in pivotal roles, including Chief Financial Officer and President, where he drove financial discipline, operational excellence, and strategic expansion. A champion of sustainability, Coletta advanced Casella’s balanced approach to economic and environmental stewardship, positioning the company as an industry leader in resource recovery while delivering consistent cash flow growth and enabling investments in cutting-edge recycling technology and infrastructure.
Former CEO John W. Casella, who guided the Company for five decades, will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board and, in collaboration with Coletta, support the Company’s strategic development, stakeholder engagement, and organizational culture.
“Ned’s deep understanding of our business and his proven ability to execute make him the ideal leader for Casella’s future,” said John W. Casella. “His vision aligns perfectly with our long-term strategy to grow responsibly and lead in sustainability.”
About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services in the eastern United States. For more information, visit www.casella.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain matters discussed in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s intentions, beliefs and/or current expectations concerning, among other things, execution against the Company’s long-term strategy; the Company’s future growth and success; and delivering value to the Company’s stakeholders, are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “would,” “intend,” “estimate,” "will," “guidance” and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates and management’s beliefs and assumptions. The Company cannot guarantee that it will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of the Company's operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things, the following: the Company may be unable to adequately increase prices or drive operating efficiencies to adequately offset increased costs and inflationary pressures, including increased fuel prices and wages; it is difficult to determine the timing or future impact of a sustained economic slowdown that could negatively affect our operations and financial results; the increasing focus on per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) and other emerging contaminants, including the recent designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of two PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, will likely lead to increased compliance and remediation costs and litigation risks; adverse weather conditions may negatively impact the Company's revenues and its operating margin; the Company may be unable to increase volumes at its landfills or improve its route profitability; the Company may be unable to reduce costs or increase pricing or volumes sufficiently to achieve estimated Adjusted EBITDA and other targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors outside the Company's control; the Company may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of its estimates; the Company's insurance coverage and self-insurance reserves may be inadequate to cover all of its risk exposures; fluctuations in energy pricing or the commodity pricing of its recyclables may make it more difficult for the Company to predict its results of operations or meet its estimates; disruptions or limited access to domestic and global transportation or the impacts of changes in tariffs that the United States and other countries have announced or implemented, as well as any additional new tariffs, trade restrictions or export regulations that may be implemented or reversed in the future, could impact the Company's ability to sell recyclables into end markets; the Company may be unable to achieve its acquisition or development targets on favorable pricing or at all, including due to the failure to satisfy all closing conditions and to receive required regulatory approvals that may prevent closing of any announced transaction; the Company may not be able to successfully integrate and recognize the expected financial benefits from acquired businesses; and the Company may incur environmental charges or asset impairments in the future.
There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company's most recently filed Form 10-K, in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10-Q and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| Contact | |
| Investors: | Media: |
| Brian J. Butler, CFA | Jeff Weld |
| Vice President of Investor Relations | Vice President of Communications |
| (802) 855-4070 | (802) 772-2234 |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d316257-5ded-479e-b0e3-d65a74d05fa0
FAQ
When did Casella Waste Systems (CWST) announce its CEO change?
Who is the new CEO of Casella Waste Systems (CWST) and what is his background?
Will John W. Casella remain involved with Casella Waste Systems (CWST)?
Did the new CEO join Casella’s Board of Directors (CWST)?
What priorities did Casella’s new CEO outline for CWST?
How might the leadership change affect Casella Waste Systems (CWST) governance?
