MES Life Safety Appoints Eric Crawford as Chief Financial Officer

Longtime MES board member brings more than 15 years of M&A and capital markets experience

MIAMI, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MES Life Safety ("MES"), a North American leader in emergency-response and life safety solutions, today announced that Eric Crawford joined the company as Chief Financial Officer on September 1, 2026.

Crawford joined MES from Platte River Equity, where he was a Managing Director and member of the firm's Investment Committee. Crawford helped lead Platte River Equity's acquisition of MES in 2021 and has since helped guide the strategy, execution, and capitalization of 17 add-on acquisitions and two divestitures for MES, growing the company's geographic footprint, enhancing its line card and service offering, expanding the business into new industries, and strengthening its balance sheet.

"Eric brings an exceptional combination of financial expertise, strategic judgment, and analytical thinking. Through his service on our Board, he has developed a strong appreciation for our customers, markets, people, culture, and mission. He has been a key architect of our acquisition and growth strategy, and his leadership will be invaluable as we enter our next phase of growth."

– Marvin Riley, Chief Executive Officer, MES Life Safety

As Chief Financial Officer, Crawford will lead MES's Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, Treasury, Risk Management, and Mergers and Acquisitions functions. He will report directly to Riley and work closely with him and the broader leadership team on capital allocation and strategy as the company expands its support for North America's mission-critical workers. Crawford succeeds John Walker, who has transitioned to the role of EVP, Transformation, where he will lead key initiatives supporting the company's enterprise development.

"Having worked alongside this team since 2021, I've seen firsthand what MES means to first responders and industrial workers who face real risk every day. Making sure they go home safe to their families is a vital responsibility. I'm honored to partner with Marvin and the MES team as we invest in our people, capabilities, and footprint to build a category-defining company in worker safety."

– Eric Crawford, Chief Financial Officer, MES Life Safety

Crawford has more than 15 years of private equity and investment banking experience, during which he served on five boards and worked on more than 40 transactions with a combined value of over $5.5 billion, spanning mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and debt and equity financings. Before joining Platte River Equity in 2010, he was an investment banker at Jefferies. He earned an MBA with Distinction from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and an A.B. in Engineering Sciences, modified with Economics, from Dartmouth College. He will continue to serve on MES's Board of Directors and will be based in Denver.

ABOUT MES LIFE SAFETY
Since 2001, MES Life Safety has been dedicated to protecting heroes from heat, hazards, and heights in the most challenging environments. As a trusted supplier to the fire service, law enforcement, and industrial safety markets, MES equips at-risk workers with high-performance products from leading brands.

With North America's largest network of specialized sales representatives, mobile service technicians, and strategically located service centers, MES delivers the equipment, expertise, and support customers need to remain ready and safe on every mission. MES has over 850 employees and 17,000 customers across North America and is a portfolio company of Platte River Equity. To learn more, visit www.meslifesafety.com.

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SOURCE MES Life Safety