Pye-Barker creates commercial services role, names Robbins president

ATLANTA—Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has appointed Peter Robbins as president of commercial services, a newly created role responsible for overseeing the company's acquisition strategy, growth initiatives and commercial operations.

Robbins joins Pye-Barker from investment banking firm Baird, where he served as managing director in the Global Technology and Services Investment Banking Group and jointly led the firm's coverage of Facility, Industrial, Residential & Environmental (FIRE) services.

In his new role, Robbins will report to CEO Bart Proctor and help shape the company's growth strategy, including how it evaluates, integrates and expands acquired businesses. Pye-Barker said it has completed more than 200 acquisitions to date as it continues its nationwide expansion.

“Pye-Barker is one of the few companies I've seen scale this quickly without losing what made it worth scaling in the first place,” Robbins said. “The operational rigor, the culture, the ownership - what this team has built is truly special, and I look forward to being part of its continued growth.”

During his time at Baird, Robbins advised on transactions across the fire and life safety industry, providing experience in the sector's operators, business models and market dynamics. He is also a longtime supporter of Ownership Works, the nonprofit organization that partnered with Pye-Barker on its ALL In employee ownership program.

Proctor said Robbins' industry knowledge and approach to growth made him a strong fit for the company.

“Peter has sat across the table from us, from our competitors, and from dozens of the businesses we've acquired,” Proctor said. “He understands this industry as well as anyone, but it was his commitment to the people that make this company great that truly stood out to me.

“Our growth, while rapid, is also very intentional,” he added. “Peter's growth philosophy matches ours perfectly, and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together.”

Related: Pye-Barker acquires Maryland-based ResponseTECH