An End Of An Era For Jacqueline O'Donovan

What a chapter Jacqueline O’Donovan has put down in her tenure as Managing Director of

O’Donovan Waste Disposal from the young age of 19. Toward the end of her reign in 2023, she was honoured by receiving an OBE (Order of the British Empire) at Windsor Castle on the 19th of December, bestowed on her by King Charles III for services to recycling, safety and industry.

During Jacqueline’s time at the helm, she has pushed boundaries in all aspects of safety and

sustainability, not to mention being a trailblazer and disrupter in the sector of waste, transport, and construction, making best practice a minimum and going above and beyond the norm. Her unwavering attitude and determination has seen the multi award-winning O’Donovan Waste Disposal grow year on year, being widely known as the industry leader.

As Jacqueline wraps up at the office at the end of January, she moves into an exciting new chapter of her career, and leaves O’Donovan Waste Disposal in the very capable hands of Sortera. Sortera are a Swedish Company, professional, well invested, and responsible organisation. They are focused on delivering a superlative customer experience, to continue the growth with implementation of new services and bringing new people to the business.

Mark McCleery, Managing Director of the Sortera UK says, “I am excited with what we plan to achieve in 2024 and beyond, with our aim of being the partner of choice in respect of sustainable construction. O’Donovan Waste Disposal is clearly an industry leader and along with the second acquisition of GBN (in mid-2023) we have secured fantastic businesses to build upon.”

Sortera UK is looking to grow organically in 2024, alongside strategic growth. Mark continues “with the assistance of Jacqueline as an independent advisor I am confident that we will be able to continue our growth in line with our clients’ requirements including the all-important ESG element.”

Currently the offering from Sortera is as far as Southend to the East and Heathrow in the West, extending service capabilities to their clients. With a combined fleet of 220+ and 6 depots servicing London and the Southeast, Sortera aim to deliver value for money with the peace of mind that the safety and environmental impacts are on the top of the agenda.

Jacqueline O’Donovan said “I leave knowing that I have handed over the batten to Mark McCleery, MD of Sortera UK, after 36 years knowing that our family business is left in capable hands with quality trained staff all round. I am super excited to move into different industries to see what else I can turn my hand to. I have no intention of abandoning the waste industry as it has been my love for 36 years and it has been such a fantastic journey that I have had from £175k turnover back in the 80’s, leaving on a £20m+ high is an amazing achievement from all the family and staff."

"I will be on the end of a telephone available at any time for the team and the directors. I will be representing Sortera on a small number of industry working groups. I am looking forward to exciting new challenges ahead."

"Receiving my OBE on 19th December was simply the cherry on the cake for me, an amazing high to finish on, as they say in the films - that’s a wrap!”