WasteCo appoints Stephen Towsen as Chief Operating Officer

2 December 2025
WasteCo appoints Stephen Towsen as Chief OperaƟng Officer to
lead operaƟonal excellence
WasteCo Group Limited (NZX:WCO) today announced the appointment of Stephen Towsen as Chief
OperaƟng Officer, strengthening the company’s operaƟonal leadership as it conƟnues rebuilding its
naƟonal waste and industrial services plaƞorm.
The appointment follows the release of WasteCo’s half-year results last week, which reported
revenue growth of 43% to $36 million and operaƟng EBITDA of $3.8 million for the six months ended
30 September 2025. These results reflect early gains from the company’s operaƟonal reset, improved
day-to-day discipline, and beƩer performance across recently integrated businesses.
Towsen joins WasteCo with more than 15 years’ experience in waste and recycling operaƟons across
New Zealand and South Africa. His background includes senior roles at Green Gorilla, Waste
Management New Zealand and EnviroWaste, with deep experƟse in large-fleet management,
logisƟcs planning, procurement, workforce leadership and operaƟonal efficiency.
Interim Chief ExecuƟve and Chair Roger Gower said Towsen’s appointment marks an important step
in liŌing WasteCo’s operaƟonal performance.
“Stephen brings pracƟcal industry experience and the operaƟonal capability needed to conƟnue
strengthening the business,” Gower said. “His focus will be on the fundamentals: safe and reliable
operaƟons, efficient fleet management, consistent service delivery, and building a performance-
driven culture across our sites. He has exactly the skills required to take our operaƟonal plaƞorm to
the next level.”
Towsen said he was aƩracted to the opportunity to help improve and unify operaƟons across the
country.
“WasteCo has put together a genuine naƟonal footprint with huge potenƟal. The priority now is
making sure the operaƟon runs well end-to-end, geƫng the basics right, keeping people safe,
running the fleet efficiently, and supporƟng our customers,” he said.
“What appealed to me is the chance to bring everything together, liŌ performance across the
regions, and help build an operaƟon that is consistent, reliable and scalable. The foundaƟons are in
place, now it’s about doing things well, every day.”
Gower said WasteCo is well posiƟoned as economic condiƟons begin to improve.
“Lower interest rates and improving business confidence are expected to liŌ waste volumes,
parƟcularly as construcƟon acƟvity recovers. Our operaƟonal changes over the past year mean
WasteCo is in a strong posiƟon to respond as market condiƟons strengthen into 2026.”
He said Towsen’s appointment gives the company the operaƟonal leadership needed for the next
phase.
“With Stephen on board, we now have the capability required to liŌ operaƟonal performance across
the business and ensure we can scale reliably and sustainably. The work underway to improve our
diversion capability, strengthen regional operaƟons and Ɵghten core processes gives us confidence in
the road ahead.”
ENDS