Ashland fire protection firm CEO retires

Ashland-based VSC Fire & Security (VSC) President Tommy Clements has assumed the added role of CEO, following former CEO Mike Meehan’s retirement, the fire protection and security company announced in mid-January.

Meehan retired on Dec. 31, 2022. He will continue to serve on the board of directors as non-executive chairman.

“The past 43 years have been a blur full of emotion, growth, learning and success, but there comes a time when another chapter beckons and a transition is necessary. That time is upon me. … The work we do is meaningful and I have always taken great pride in who we are, what we do and what we have built,” Meehan said in a statement.

Meehan joined VSC as a pipefitter in 1979 and held various roles, including division manager of the Virginia Beach office. Meehan joined the board of directors in 1998, then became president in 2017 and CEO in 2022. Under his leadership as president and CEO, VSC doubled in volume and expanded into Arkansas and Texas.

Established in 1958 as Virginia Sprinkler Co., VSC provides fire protection, safety and low voltage solutions to retailers, commercial campuses, health care facilities and government properties throughout the Southeast. The company, which is owned by Markel Corp., employs more than 1,400 people across 10 states.