Rentokil Initial announces leadership changes, appoints Michael Duffy as new CEO

Rentokil Initial has announced a major leadership transition, appointing Michael Duffy as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, effective 16 March, 2026. 

He joined company as CEO Designate on 16 February, 2026, succeeding long-serving CEO Andy Ransom, who stepped down from the role on the same date. Ransom will continue working with the company to ensure a smooth leadership transition ahead of the company’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for 7 May, 2026.

Duffy brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across large US businesses in both B2B and B2C sectors. Over his career, he has led multiple business transformations focused on improving customer experience, employee engagement, and financial performance. His leadership initiatives have included commercial strategy optimisation, technology deployment to enhance customer experience, and strengthening operational processes and organisational culture.

Duffy recently served as CEO of OnTrac, a logistics company specialising in residential last-mile deliveries for e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands. Prior to this, he was CEO of FleetPride, where the company expanded to more than 350 locations across North America under his leadership.  

Commenting on the appointment, Richard Solomons, Chair of Rentokil Initial, said, "We are delighted to announce Mike as our new Chief Executive. He is a successful business leader with a deep understanding of multi-site and route-based operations and customer acquisition strategies. He has a proven track record of delivering profitable growth and transforming businesses and has the right skills and capabilities to enable Rentokil Initial to realise its full potential over the coming years. 

“On behalf of the Board, I want to express our gratitude to Andy for his enormous contributions and commitment to the Company for 18 years and especially during his successful tenure as CEO, steering Rentokil Initial to become one of the world’s leading services businesses. We wish him all the very best for the future,” he added.

Duffy said, "It is an honour to be appointed as Chief Executive of Rentokil Initial, a company with an impressive global footprint and a leading position in the North American market. I admire Rentokil Initial's commitment to its customers, its focus on innovation, and the dedication of its people. There is an exciting opportunity ahead to build upon the strong foundations in place to drive operational excellence, improved financial performance and incremental value for shareholders."

Ransom added, "It has been the greatest privilege of my career to lead Rentokil Initial, and I want to extend my deepest thanks to every colleague who has contributed to our success. We have built the world's largest Pest Control business, which, together with our global Hygiene and Wellbeing business, are a platform with the scale and capabilities to drive future growth. I am immensely proud of what we've accomplished, and I look forward to handing the baton over to Mike and working closely with him to ensure a smooth transition."

Separately, Alvin Low has also joined Rentokil Initial as HR Director for Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. Low previously spent seven years at Lotus's Malaysia, where he served as Head of People until September 2025. 

Sharing the news, Low said, "I am thrilled to share that after 7 meaningful years contributing to the people and culture at Lotus's Malaysia, I am taking on the role of HR Director for Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines Rentokil Initial." 

Earlier in his career, Low held key HR and strategic leadership roles at GSK and Axiata Group, bringing nearly two decades of HR and leadership experience to the role.