TruGreen appointed John Cowles its new president and CEO. The change will be effective Sept. 17.
Prior to joining TruGreen, Cowles was President and CEO at FXI, a foam producer for the home, health care, electronics, industrial, personal care and transportation markets. Cowles is a 30-year business veteran who has held senior leadership positions at Touchstone Wireless, Kraft Foods, Campbell Soup Co. and George Weston Bakeries.
“I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to build on the business momentum TruGreen has established over the past several years,” said Cowles. “TruGreen has a legacy of helping people live life outside. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with our associates to continue our commitment to creating green and healthy outdoor spaces for our 2.3 million customers.”
David Alexander, current President and CEO, will be retiring from the company after serving as the company’s president and CEO since December 2012 and 2014, respectively.
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead TruGreen through some of the most important periods of growth in its forty-five year history, and I am very proud of what our team has accomplished together,” said Alexander.
“We are grateful for David’s service to TruGreen,” said John Compton, TruGreen chairman and operating partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the private equity firm that owns controlling interest in TruGreen. “His leadership was instrumental in the successful transition of TruGreen as an independent company and through the merger with Scotts LawnService, while creating significant, sustainable growth. Cowles’ focus on service innovation, building a strong team and culture, and delivering best-in-class customer service will be tremendously beneficial as TruGreen enters its next phase of growth.”
ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design promoted Bill Walters to vice president of operations over its maintenance division. Walters joined ArtisTree in 2014 as tree manager before being promoted to operations manager overseeing multiple departments.
In his new role, he will focus on productivity and customer relations while integrating efforts in service delivery, communications, vendor negotiations and equipment procurement.
Unique Lighting Systems added Ryan Mattison as district sales manager for the Pacific Northwest and western Canada and Keith Radatz as district sales manager for the northern Midwest.
Mattison comes to Unique Lighting from Horizon Distributors, where he worked as a business development manager. Radatz has spent the last 18 years as owner and president of his own construction company.
“Keith and Ryan have the technical expertise, professionalism and customer dedication that make them a perfect fit to deliver superior outdoor lighting solutions in their respective territories,” said Burnett Jones, business manager for Unique Lighting Systems.
The National Association of Landscape Professionals named Jason DeSarle its new vice president of membership and marketing.
