WCA Waste Names Cowhey CEO

WCA Waste Corp. has named James Cowhey Jr. as its new CEO.

Cowhey joins the Houston-based WCA after serving as president and CEO of Chicago-based Land and Lakes Co. Land and Lakes was sold in September to Houston-based Waste Management Inc. Cowhey was CEO at Land and Lakes since 2001.

Paul Mitchener, managing director, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, served as interim CEO since WCA was purchased by the Sydney-based Macquarie Group in March 2012. He will continue as chairman of WCA, according to a news release.

"The WCA board is thrilled to have Jim Cowhey as our CEO,” Mitchener said. “Jim's extensive experience in the waste industry and his proven track record in building Land and Lakes into a leading company in one of the most competitive markets in the U.S. greatly enhance our ability to execute the strategic vision for the company."

WCA Waste’s assets consist of 22 landfills, 24 transfer stations/material recovery facilities and 25 collection operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennesseeand Texas.