STAMFORD, Conn. – After a notable 45-year career in arboriculture Greg Daniels will retire as president and chief operating officer of Bartlett Tree Experts on December 31, 2012, the company said in a statement.

Daniels joined Bartlett in 1975 as a local manager and held roles of increasing responsibility until being named president in 1999. During his tenure with the company, he has been involved in more than 20 acquisitions, 31 office openings and the establishment of new locations in the U.S. and abroad. He is, and will remain, a member of the Bartlett board of directors and trustee of the Bartlett Tree Foundation, which provides mentoring and financial support for future arborists.

In 2011, Daniels received the TCIA Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the organization to an individual that has positively impacted the practice of arboriculture. His years of volunteer service to industry organizations including TCIA, ISA and the National Arborist Foundation are just one example of his pivotal role in advancing the field of arboriculture.

“Greg has been a true visionary for Bartlett Tree Experts, building the company’s character with his leadership,” said Robert Bartlett Jr. chairman and CEO. “I remember when I first met him. He wanted more than a job. He wanted a challenge. I’m pretty sure we’ve been able to deliver that challenge over the years – and Greg has more than lived up to it. I look forward to working with him in a new capacity in the years to come.”

Bartlett Tree Experts is currently conducting an internal application process and will be naming a new president in the coming months. The selected candidate will start Jan. 1, 2013, under the mentorship of Daniels who will continue to be actively involved in the company.