MEMPHIS, TENN.— Bill Derwin will join the ServiceMaster Co. as president of Terminix, effective Nov. 11. He will report to ServiceMaster CEO Robert Gillette.
Derwin joins Memphis-based ServiceMaster from the Otis Elevator division of United Technologies Corp., a $57 billion company that provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. The company’s other divisions include Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky.
“One of my top priorities since joining ServiceMaster has been filling key positions on my executive team with performance-driven leaders who bring a passion to win every day,” says Gillette. “At Otis, Bill established an outstanding 11-year track record of driving growth in a highly competitive environment. He’s a proven, results-oriented leader who brings significant global experience in growing businesses through a combination of acquisitions, joint ventures, organic growth and service excellence. Bill’s background will be especially helpful as we explore opportunities to grow Terminix by expanding our commercial and international segments.”
Derwin served as vice president of Otis’ $4.2 billion global field operations, with 30,000 employees around the world, including the emerging markets of China, India, Brazil and Russia. Prior to Otis, Derwin spent five years as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., leading a number of major initiatives for a broad array of Fortune 100 companies, building extensive experience in strategy, operations, human resources, commercial growth, and sales and marketing. He began his career in engineering at The Boeing Company in Seattle. Derwin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School.
Larry Pruitt, who has been serving as Terminix’s interim president since March, will assume a new role as Terminix COO and assist Derwin during the transition.
“Larry has done an excellent job as interim president,” says Gillette. “Despite some marketplace challenges in 2013, under Larry’s leadership, Terminix has continued to deliver solid performance. He’s also helped the entire team stay focused, energized, engaged and accountable. Larry’s broad industry knowledge, accumulated over a 29-year Terminix career, will be a huge plus as Bill settles into his new role.”
Wow Terminix making someone in charge that doesn’t have any Pest Control Experience definitely a reach and being in the industry most of my life I know there is a lot more to what we do than elevators. Shocked but then again it is there business will be interesting to see the direction they go in the near future may be very beneficial to a lot of us smaller locally owned operators.