4M Taps Veteran CEO Leonard Carder to Spearhead PE-Backed Growth

ST. LOUIS, MO – January 08, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling a new phase of aggressive growth, 4M Building Solutions has appointed facility services veteran Leonard Carder as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment comes as the St. Louis-based company, backed by private equity firm O2 Investment Partners, accelerates its expansion across the nation. Carder succeeds Tim Murch, whose family founded the company in 1978 and who will transition to an advisory role.

Carder steps in to lead a company in the midst of a significant transformation. With over three decades of experience in the sector, he brings a formidable track record of scaling businesses for substantial growth. His executive career includes leadership roles at prominent nationwide firms such as Watterson, Aptive Environmental, REEF Technology, and industry giant ABM Industries. Throughout these tenures, he has developed a reputation for driving enterprise-wide value and steering companies toward successful financial exits, a background that aligns perfectly with the objectives of its private equity ownership.

“Leonard is a proven leader with tremendous experience deploying overall vision and strategy throughout service-centric organizations,” said Tim Murch, who will continue to guide the company’s growth initiatives. “I am thrilled to welcome him and support his ability to leverage 4M’s success in delivering superior facility services at scale.”

The Private Equity Playbook in Action

Carder's appointment is a pivotal element of the strategy set in motion when O2 Investment Partners acquired a majority stake in 4M Building Solutions in January 2023. O2, a Midwestern firm specializing in lower middle-market companies, identified 4M as an ideal platform for a “buy-and-build” strategy within the fragmented but opportunity-rich commercial cleaning market. The investment was a key deployment from O2's $445 million Fund IV.

Since the partnership began, 4M has embarked on an aggressive acquisition spree, executing at least eleven acquisitions to rapidly expand its geographic footprint and service capabilities. This includes the integration of companies like Capital Services in May 2023, LCS Facility Group in November 2023, Hi-Tec Building Services and Thario Building Services in September 2024, and Covenant Building Service in December 2024. This rapid consolidation has already significantly grown the company from operating in 15 states with 4,000 employees in 2022 to a force in 27 states with over 7,000 team members today.

Mark Heneman of O2 Investment Partners commented on the strategic fit, stating, “We are excited to welcome Leonard to the amazing 4M Building Solutions family. He is a proven leader with extensive experience in scaling facility services businesses. Leonard’s addition complements our highly skilled leadership team and signals our commitment to market expansion and dedication to our staff and clients.” Carder is now tasked with integrating these disparate acquisitions into a cohesive, efficient national operation while scouting further growth opportunities.

Balancing Legacy with Expansion

While the focus is clearly on future growth, Carder inherits a business with deep roots and a strong legacy. Founded by Mitch Murch Sr. in 1978, 4M Building Solutions grew under the leadership of his son, Tim Murch, into a super-regional provider known for its high-quality service and long-standing customer relationships. The core challenge for the new CEO will be to implement the rapid-scaling playbook of private equity without eroding the culture and service quality that defined the company for nearly five decades.

Keeping Tim Murch in an advisory role is a strategic move to ensure continuity and leverage his invaluable institutional knowledge and industry relationships during this critical transition. It signals a desire to blend the Murch family's legacy of customer-centric service with Carder's expertise in modernization and scale.

In his new role, Carder will oversee all company operations and strategic direction. His focus will be on driving technological and process developments, pursuing further market expansion, and deepening customer engagement across 4M’s diverse client base, which spans industrial, healthcare, education, and corporate sectors.

“I am honored to join 4M Building Solutions and lead such a talented team,” Carder stated. “Our culture and commitment to excellence are the cornerstones of achieving success over the past five decades. I look forward to working closely with everyone throughout the firm as we continue to deliver exceptional value and innovation to our valued clients, team members, and shareholders.”

Navigating a Transforming Industry

Carder takes the helm at a time when the facility services industry is undergoing profound changes. The COVID-19 pandemic permanently elevated expectations for cleanliness, health, and safety, creating sustained demand for advanced disinfection protocols and hospital-grade cleaning services. Simultaneously, persistent labor shortages and rising wages are compelling companies to seek greater efficiency through technology.

The industry is rapidly adopting automation, from robotic floor scrubbers to AI-powered software that optimizes cleaning schedules based on real-time foot traffic data. Another key trend is the growing demand for sustainability, with clients increasingly requiring green cleaning products and eco-friendly practices. Carder's mandate will undoubtedly include navigating these trends, investing in innovative technologies, and positioning 4M as a forward-thinking leader.

His leadership will be crucial in modernizing 4M's operations to not only manage its expanded scale but also to offer the sophisticated, data-driven, and sustainable services that the market now demands. The appointment of a CEO with Carder's background makes it clear that 4M Building Solutions, under O2's ownership, is aiming not just to get bigger, but to become a more technologically advanced and formidable competitor on the national stage.