PAOLI, Pa. – Zeus Fire and Security, a technology-enabled provider of mission-critical fire protection, security and life safety solutions, today announces the appointment of Michael Cox as chief executive officer.
Scott R. Elkins, founder of Zeus and the company’s chief executive officer since its formation in partnership with Access Holdings in February 2022, has been appointed executive chairman and member of the board of directors, according to the company announcement.
The leadership transition “is part of a long-planned succession process designed to strengthen leadership capacity, support continued growth and position Zeus for its next chapter of scale and long-term value creation,” the announcement says.
“Zeus is committed to building a highly differentiated and premier tech enabled, fully integrated, fire and security services business through continued investment in advanced technology solutions and in its team,” according to the company announcement.
Why is Zeus Shaking Up its Leadership Team?
Since its founding in 2022, and on the heels of the acquisition of SEi last month, Zeus has grown revenues more than four times, having expanded across North America through “a combination of strategic acquisitions, operational excellence and a commitment to building a people-first culture,” the announcement says.
Today, Zeus serves customers across the United States and Canada through a growing network of fire protection, security and monitoring businesses.
“We believe Zeus has now earned the right to become one of the largest and leading fire and safety platforms in the United States, and as we look ahead to the next phase of growth for Zeus, we wanted to ensure we had the long-term leadership, operating experience, and succession plan required to build a category leading business,” says Elkins in the company announcement.
“This transition is a proactive step made from a position of strength,” he says. “Mike is an exceptional leader with deep experience scaling complex organizations, and I could not be more excited to welcome Mike to Zeus and partner with him as we continue building on the incredible momentum our team has created since our launch.”
Cox brings experience leading and scaling multi-site service businesses and “has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, building high-performing teams and accelerating growth,” according to the Zeus Fire and Safety announcement.
Most recently, he helped lead a services business from approximately $300 million to more than $1 billion in revenue.
“Zeus has built something truly special,” says Cox in the company announcement. “The company has an exceptional culture, a strong leadership team, outstanding operating businesses and a significant runway for growth.
“My focus is simple: build on the strong foundation already in place, continue investing in our people and customers, and help the organization scale while staying true to the values that have driven its success. I am honored to join the Zeus team and partner with Scott and Access Holdings and I am excited about the significant opportunities ahead,” he says.
As Executive Chairman, Elkins “remains actively involved in the business, focusing on strategic growth initiatives, industry relationships, acquisition strategy and long-term value creation,” according to the Zeus announcement. He “will continue working closely with Cox, the leadership team and Access Holdings to support the company’s continued expansion.”
