SITA UK operations chief to head WRG

Mr Taylor, 50, is a chartered civil engineer and will be joining WRG from SITA UK which he has now left ahead of his new post.

He became chief operating officer for SITA UK's processing division in January 2009. Prior to this appointment, he was operations director for treatment and has served on SITA UK's board since 1999. With 16 years of experience in the recycling and waste management industry, Mr Taylor has largely been based in north-east England. 

Experience

WRG is owned by Spanish construction and waste firm FCC. Tomás Núñez, head of FCC's northern European waste activities, who is also chairman of WRG, said: “Paul has spent over 15 years in the waste management industry and brings to WRG significant experience in waste recycling and treatment which will be important as we lead the business through this new and exciting phase in our development.”

WRG said that “Jim Meredith has decided to leave the company at the end of November after six years as chief executive of the Group”. 

Grateful

Mr Núñez added: “We are grateful for the contribution that Jim has made to the development of WRG over the past six years and we wish him well with his future endeavours.”

Mr Meredith is understood to have signalled to FCC several months ago that he would like to step down from the chief executive post after having spent six years with the company. Like many in the sector, he has had something of a tough time over the past year at the helm of WRG during the recession. The company has lost landfill volumes and has also been beaten by competitors for preferred bidder status for some contracts.

Negative

The depreciation in the value of the pound has been a problem for FCC in its relationship with WRG. Commenting on WRG's financial performance in the first half of 2009, parent company FCC said: “The negative effect of the depreciation of the pound Sterling against the euro (-13.1%) is particularly evident in international markets during the period, compared with that of 2008. This had a particular effect on WRG's operations, which were negatively affected by slower business due to the weak economic situation and a rise in landfill tax.”