---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-24-030004"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WM"
cik: "0000823768"
company_name: "WASTE MANAGEMENT INC"
filed_at: "2024-03-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-05T05:55:38.098255+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# WM elects Tom Bené to board; director John C. Pope to retire at 2024 annual meeting

## Summary
- Tom Bené, president and CEO of Breakthru Beverage Group, elected as independent director effective March 1, 2024.
- Board expands to 10 members (9 independent); will reduce to 9 after Pope's term expires.
- John C. Pope reaches retirement age and will not stand for re-election at 2024 annual meeting.
- Bené appointed to Management Development & Compensation Committee; receives pro-rated stock award of ~$67,770 and cash of $45,180.
- Bené brings four decades of experience from Sysco, PepsiCo, and current role at Breakthru Beverage.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-24-030004
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WM
- cik: 0000823768
- company_name: WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
- filed_at: 2024-03-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465924030004/0001104659-24-030004-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465924030004/tm247544d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-030004
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-030004.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-24-030004.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John C. Pope departed as Director at WASTE MANAGEMENT INC.
  - Action: will not stand for re-election
  - Role: Director
  source text: he will not stand for re-election and his term as a director of the Company will expire at the 2024 Annual Meeting
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465924030004/0001104659-24-030004-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas L. Bené was elected as Director at WASTE MANAGEMENT INC.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Director
  source text: elected Mr. Thomas L. Bené as an additional member of the Board
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465924030004/0001104659-24-030004-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.