Richard Williams, the former managing director of Bristol Waste, received a severance payment of nearly £120,000 upon leaving the council-owned company, according to Bristol City Council's annual draft accounts. In addition to his £146,106 salary, fees, and allowances from April 2025 until his departure on March 2, 2026, he was awarded £119,461 as compensation for loss of office, effectively a golden handshake. His total remuneration package for the 2025/26 financial year reached £280,661, including £15,094 in employer pension contributions.
Leadership Instability at Bristol Waste
Williams became the fifth managing director at Bristol Waste in less than four years, highlighting a pattern of frequent leadership changes at the top of the company. He had served for just 17 months. The previous MD, Tony Lawless, and his deputy, finance director Adam Henshaw, both stepped down on the same day in July 2022, receiving a combined exit payment of £127,000. Three interim MDs followed, including Dave Knight from May 2023, whose 17-month tenure cost taxpayers £371,000, including an undisclosed recruitment agency fee.
Secrecy Surrounding Departure
Williams' exit was initially kept quiet. Senior executives presented the annual business case to the council's strategy and resources committee on March 16, 2026—two weeks after his formal resignation—without acknowledging his departure. It only became public through a Companies House filing later that month confirming his termination. Since then, a tripartite team of three existing directors has run the company, pending the arrival of new managing director Rob Heath in September 2026.
Council and Company Response
Cllr Jonathan Hucker (Conservative, Stockwood), a non-executive director of Bristol Waste and a critic of large payoffs, said: "A significant amount of money was paid to the previous MD as compensation for loss of office. This was made in the interests of business stability, but it is deeply regrettable nevertheless." A Bristol City Council spokesperson stated: "Bristol Waste can confirm that the former managing director received compensation in line with standard business practices when leaving office. As a company owned by Bristol City Council, any amounts paid in compensation by Bristol Waste Company are published within Bristol City Council's accounts and will also be published in Bristol Waste Company's once they are filed."
Other Executive Pay Details
The council's accounts also reveal that Bristol Waste finance director Kevin Hayter received £105,233 from May 2026 to the end of March 2026. Stephen Baker, managing director of council-owned developer Goram Homes, earned £161,987 in salary, fees, and allowances for 2025/26. Chris Smith, executive lead and interim group finance director of Bristol Holding—the intermediary overseeing both Bristol Waste and Goram—cost taxpayers £161,025, though this includes agency fees, meaning his personal pay was lower.
