Leading provider of essential sanitizing products and services Swisher Hygiene announced that its Board of Directors has recruited current director William M. Pierce to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Thomas C. Byrne will be returning to his prior position as Executive Vice President.
“The Board is pleased that Bill has accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Swisher,” commented Chairman of the Board for Swisher, Richard L. Handley. “As we mentioned at our Shareholders meeting in June, this year will be focused on improving operations, strengthening our customer service, and simplifying our business model. With the addition of Bill’s leadership to the management team, and with his 40 years of operating experience, we can further accelerate these initiatives.”
“Over the past year, Tom has helped define this future direction of Swisher; under his leadership, we were able to complete a difficult review and restatement process and return to a current filing status with the SEC,” continued Handley. “Further, we put in place a cost rationalization program from which we are beginning to see significant benefits, and we are starting to see a return to sequential quarterly revenue growth. The Board of Directors thanks him for his able stewardship, and we know he will continue to make valuable contributions to the Company.”
Pierce has served as a director of Swisher and as a member of the Company’s Audit and Compensation Committees since June of 2013. In his new role as President and CEO, he will resign from his committee positions as required by NASDAQ listing requirements. Since 1990, Pierce has held the title of Senior Vice President at Huizenga Holdings, Inc., where he served as chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and as the director of a number of private and public companies. Pierce’s positions have also included President of Frederica Hospitality Group, LLC and five years at Dolphins Enterprises in the role of Chief Financial Officer and as Executive Vice President, where he oversaw non-football related business operations of the Miami Dolphins, as well as Sun Life Stadium.
In addition Pierce served as Chief Operating Officer of two route-based businesses, Sparkle, Inc. and the Blue Ribbon Water Company. Prior to that, he spent five years at the NYSE-traded company, Boca Resorts Inc., as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until its sale in 2004. It was there that he led day-to-day oversight and company growth, as well as raising equity and debt in the public markets. Prior to Huizenga Holdings, Pierce spent 11 years as a senior operating executive of Sky Chefs, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines. He received his Bachelors in Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso.
“Tom has done an admirable job guiding Swisher over the past 13 months,” stated Pierce. “The Company will build on the foundation Tom has laid, with a continued emphasis on improving service excellence for our customers, driving additional operating efficiencies, and improving margins and cash flow.”
“I am proud of what we were able to accomplish during this period in Swisher’s history and I believe the company is well positioned to capitalize on the opportunities in our core chemical and hygiene market,” said Mr. Byrne. “I welcome Bill aboard, and I look forward to working with him to further advance Swisher’s progress.”
For more information, please visit www.swisherhygiene.com
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