News / Bristol Waste
Exodus of top Bristol Waste employees continues
Bristol Waste has parted company with its fifth managing director in less than four years.
Richard Williams left the city council-owned firm on March 2, according to records at Companies House that have been confirmed by the business.
He was the top boss for 17 months, having been appointed in October 2024.
But the news was not made public despite senior Bristol Waste executives presenting their annual business case to councillors at the strategy & resources committee on Monday – a full two weeks after Williams’ formal resignation.
His departure was not mentioned once during the meeting and only came to light with the filing to Companies House announcing his ‘termination of appointment’.
The circumstances of why Williams left Bristol Waste have not been disclosed.
Bristol Waste’s former managing director Richard Williams (right) at a Bristol City Council strategy & resources committee in 2025 – photo: Bristol City Council / YouTube
The exodus of Bristol Waste’s top employees began in July 2022 when managing director Tony Lawless and his deputy, finance director Adam Henshaw, both resigned on the same day.
Reasons given were that Lawless had ‘stepped down’ and Henshaw exited ‘to be free to pursue other opportunities’.
It later emerged that they were paid a combined £127,000 in compensation for loss of office.
Since then there have been three interim MDs, starting with Jason Eldridge who stepped up from operations director but left the company due to ill-health six months later.
He was replaced by Ian Osborne who returned to his role as non-executive director after four months when Dave Knight became the latest temporary managing director in May 2023.
Council accounts show Knight, who remained interim MD until Williams’ appointment to the role on a permanent basis, was paid an ‘eye-watering’ £371,000 for just under 17 months’ work, minus an undisclosed cut to a recruitment agency to secure his services.
Asked to comment on Williams’ departure, a Bristol Waste spokesperson said: “Managing director Richard Williams left Bristol Waste on March 2 2026.
“Richard has been key in Bristol Waste gaining approval in principle of the future contract with Bristol City Council.
“We are very grateful for all his contributions and hard work helping make our city safe, clean and sustainable and we wish him the best in the future.
“In the immediate term, Bristol Waste will operate under a tripartite leadership arrangement, comprising Ricky Gayfer, operations director, Ceri Hodgkinson, people director, and Kevin Hayter, finance director.
“They will oversee day-to-day running of the business and ensure a seamless transition as a new MD is recruited.
“Together, we make tomorrow safer, cleaner and more sustainable.”
Bristol City Council leader, Tony Dyer, said: “We wish to thank Richard for the role he has played in leading Bristol Waste through recent, difficult times and for his work in supporting the organisation to stabilise and improve service delivery for residents and businesses.
“We will now support Bristol Waste to deliver a robust process to recruit a new managing director.”
Main photo: Bristol Waste
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