Peter Jones to leave Biffa in huge re-shuffle

Mr Jones, the external relations director, will leave at the end of this month and at the same time, director of environment, quality and health and safety, Berian Griffiths will step down. Bob Tate, Biffa's special waste director, has retired.

The departures follow Biffa's acquisition by private equity firm WasteAcquisitionco Limited in April (see letsrecycle.com story) and pave the way for a new team of directors to take the reins.

Although no replacements have been officially announced, Simon Allin, who used to work as business development manager for Viridor Waste Management, joined Biffa last week as collection and municipal development director.

Mr Allin has experience in leading development projects for new infrastructure and was instrumental in gaining planning permission for Viridor to build an anaerobic digestion plant at Beddington in South London, and also helped the company with its acquisition of Wyvern Waste.

American technological expert Bill Woodburn is currently heading up Biffa as acting chief executive. Former chief executive Martin Bettington stepped down when the company was sold. Mr Woodburn brings with him an interest in developing new waste treatment technology (see letsrecycle.com story).

Contribution

Mr Woodburn this morning paid tribute to the contribution both Mr Jones and Mr Griffiths had made to Biffa.

He said: “I would like to place on record my thanks to both Peter and Berian, who will be leaving Biffa at the end of the month, after 19 years and 22 years respectively. Both have been great ambassadors for the company and have made significant contributions to the growth and success of the business over the years. I wish them well for the future.”

Peter Jones

Seen as an influential figure within the waste industry, Peter Jones has helped to raise the profile of both Biffa and the waste management sector, often appearing in the national media as well as taking concerns to the heart of government and Parliament.

Mr Jones has also played an active role in Defra's new technologies programme, the government's Data Advisory Panel and the sustainable consumption and production taskforce. Last year, Mr Jones launched the Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network as its chair.

In 2007, he became on Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services for the environment (see letsrecycle.com story).

Berian Griffiths

Berian Griffiths was chairman of the Environmental Services Association's Regulation Committee and of the Welsh ESA.

He is widely credited as architect of Biffa's modern landfill business – after leading the acquisition and development of the company's key sites at Redhill in Surrey, Poplars in Staffordshire, and Trecatti in South Wales.

More recently Mr Griffiths has been closely linked to the company's Behaviour Change Safety Programme which has received considerable acclaim.