The board of directors at Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM) has elected William Meaney, most recently CEO at conglomerate Zuellig Group, to succeed the retiring Richard Reese as chief executive of the records management provider starting Jan. 7, 2013.
The company said Meaney will also assume the title of president and Lead Independent Director Al Verrecchia will succeed Reese as board chairman starting in March 2013, when Reese retires from the board.
Iron Mountain’s board decided to separate the roles of chairman and CEO.
“Bill’s extensive global operations experience in both services and logistics-based businesses is key to expanding our market leadership position in North America, as well as growing our international business, particularly in emerging markets, ” Verrecchia said.
Reese served as CEO between December 1981 and June 2008, returning to lead the company in April 2011.
He has also served as chairman since 1996 and has held the executive chairman role since June 2008.
“I’m very proud to have been part of building this tremendous organization working alongside an amazing team, and I’m excited to watch the company move on to its next phase of success, ” Reese said.
The company credited him with growing it from a business with $3 million in annualized revenues to more than $3 billion in sales.
According to Iron Mountain, Meaney brings more than 20 years experience overseeing businesses in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa.
Before joining the Zuellig Group, he spent five years in the airline industry, serving as as chief commercial officer and managing director of Swiss International Airlines and executive vice president of South African Airways.
Meaney serves as a board member at Qantas Airways Ltd.
He has also served as acting CEO of South African Vaccine Producers, founder and managing director of Genhro Management Consultancy and a principal of Strategic Planning Associates.
Verrecchia joined Iron Mountain’s board in March 2010 and has also served as board chairman at Hasbro Inc. since 2008.
