Clean Harbors, Inc.聽announced that its Founder and Executive Chairman, Alan S. McKim, has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire from the Board and his role as Chief Technology Officer upon the Board appointing a new Chair. The Board expects to appoint an independent Chair later this summer as part of a planned leadership transition.
McKim founded Clean Harbors in 1980 and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 2023, when he transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer. Under his leadership, Clean Harbors has grown into North America鈥檚 leading provider of environmental and industrial services, generating more than $6 billion in annual revenue and expanding through disciplined organic investment and strategic M&A.
鈥淭hanks to Alan鈥檚 foresight and long-term strategic approach, the Clean Harbors brand has become synonymous with world-class environmental services,鈥� said Edward Galante, lead independent director. 鈥淯nder Alan鈥檚 leadership, the Company has set industry standards for safety, compliance and service excellence. Beyond the financial results over more than four decades, Alan鈥檚 legacy is defined by the integrity and core values he embedded throughout the organization. It has been an honor to work alongside him and witness the fulfillment of his vision for the company he founded. On behalf of the entire Board, we thank Alan for his extraordinary contributions and for establishing the strong foundation on which Clean Harbors will continue to grow.鈥�
During his tenure, McKim positioned Clean Harbors not only as the leading environmental and industrial services provider, but also as a critical emergency response partner for many of the nation鈥檚 largest and most complex incidents. The Company has played key roles in responses to events including 9/11, major hurricanes, the Deepwater Horizon disaster, avian flu outbreaks and large-scale Covid decontamination projects.
鈥淭he story of Alan McKim is, in many ways, the story of American ingenuity and execution,鈥� said Mike Battles, Co-Chief Executive Officer. 鈥淗e started Clean Harbors with three friends, a single truck, and a small garage, combined with a conviction that the emerging environmental services sector required a different standard of capability and reliability. Over the ensuing decades, he led with clarity and discipline and helped transform not only this company, but the entire industry. Today, Clean Harbors employs nearly 25,000 people, maintains a fleet of more than 20,000 vehicles and operates a network of over 900 service branch locations across North America. The scale, resilience and culture of Clean Harbors today are a direct reflection of Alan鈥檚 profound and enduring impact on this organization.鈥�
Eric Gerstenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer, said, 鈥淚 have been privileged to work alongside Alan for more than 35 years and have tremendous respect for what he has built. The culture he developed over decades starts with an unyielding commitment to the safety of our employees, our facilities and the communities we serve. Alan also promoted technology as a core differentiator for Clean Harbors, both to enhance the value we deliver to customers and to drive sustainable competitive advantage. As a leader, he consistently challenged us to think long term, to act responsibly and to remember that every decision ultimately impacts people. His ethos is captured in our company motto: People and technology creating a cleaner, safer environment.鈥�
Reflecting on his retirement, McKim said, 鈥淚 can step back from the Company I founded with confidence, knowing that Clean Harbors is in very capable hands with a strong, engaged Board and a talented executive leadership team, led by Eric and Mike. After working for more than 50 years in the environmental industry, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family. As a blue-collar kid who grew up outside Boston with an entrepreneurial spirit and a calling to clean up the environment, I have watched Clean Harbors grow from its humble beginnings to succeeding beyond my wildest dreams. My greatest satisfaction comes from the impact Clean Harbors has had on the lives and careers of our employees and their families, and from the trust that customers have placed in us to manage hazardous materials safely and to respond in their moments of greatest need. I am confident Clean Harbors鈥� mission will continue as current leadership drives the Company in its next phase of growth.鈥�