Zeus names Michael Cox CEO; founder Scott Elkins becomes executive chairman

PAOLI, Pa.—Zeus Fire and Security has announced a leadership transition that will see Michael Cox become chief executive officer, while founder Scott R. Elkins moves into the role of executive chairman and member of the board of directors. 

The company said the change is part of a long-planned succession process intended to strengthen leadership capacity, support continued growth and position Zeus for its next stage of expansion. 

Elkins has served as CEO since Zeus was formed in partnership with Access Holdings in February 2022. As executive chairman, he will remain actively involved in the business, focusing on strategic growth initiatives, acquisition strategy, industry relationships and long-term value creation. 

“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,” Elkins said.  

He added, “This transition is a proactive step made from a position of strength. 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.” 

According to Zeus, the company has grown revenue more than fourfold since its founding in 2022 and, following its acquisition of SEi last month, has become the eighth-largest fire protection, security and life-safety company in the United States. The company serves customers across the U.S. and Canada through a network of fire protection, security and monitoring businesses. 

Cox joins Zeus with experience leading and scaling multi-site service organizations. The company noted that he most recently helped lead a services business from approximately $300 million to more than $1 billion in revenue. 

“Zeus has built something truly special,” Cox said. “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.”  

Access Holdings, Zeus’ investment partner, said the transition reflects both the maturity of the organization and its long-term growth ambitions. 

Related: Zeus Fire and Security acquires PM Alarms

Photo courtesy of Zeus Fire and Security