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Siva Kugathas of ServiceMaster Clean AAA Named Influential Man in Business for Commercial Cleaning & Facilities Services 2026

Recognising outstanding leadership, sustained business growth and a people-first approach that has helped ServiceMaster Clean AAA expand across 22 territories while maintaining high standards of service.

Siva Kugathas, Managing Director of ServiceMaster Clean AAA, has been named the recipient of the Influential Man in Business Award in Commercial Cleaning & Facilities Services 2026, recognising a business journey built on hard work, consistency, strong operational foundations and a long-term commitment to both people and clients.

Siva’s journey began when he moved to the UK from Sri Lanka at just 17 years old. Determined to create a better future for his family, he spent more than two decades working within the franchise sector through Pizza Hut and KFC before moving into contract cleaning and taking on ServiceMaster Clean AAA.

 

What began with a single territory has since developed into an operation spanning 22 territories, supported by a growing workforce and a leadership structure designed to maintain standards as the business continues to expand.

For Siva, family has remained at the centre of that journey. His ambition was not simply to create a successful company, but to build something lasting that his children could be proud of and potentially continue in the future. He was also attracted to commercial cleaning because of its essential role and the opportunity he saw to create a strong and sustainable operation.

“My family has always been my biggest motivation. I wanted to build something lasting that my children could be proud of and perhaps build on themselves.”

 

That long-term thinking has shaped the way Siva approaches growth. Rather than expanding for the sake of scale, he has concentrated on strengthening systems, placing capable people in the right positions and ensuring the foundations of the business are ready before moving into the next stage.

Hard work and consistency remain central to the ServiceMaster Clean AAA culture, but Siva also credits respect, responsibility and investment in people as major factors behind the company’s progress.

Employees are given clear expectations alongside opportunities to develop, take ownership and progress within the organisation. Regular reviews, training, bonuses and team events are used to create a stronger sense of involvement and belonging throughout the workforce.

As Siva puts it, his aim is to create a team that approaches the company with the same care and responsibility they would bring to a business of their own.

That philosophy has become particularly important during challenging periods. The pandemic tested both the operation and its people, with Siva choosing to remain visible and work alongside his team rather than asking employees to take on responsibilities he would not undertake himself.

An even more personal challenge came with the loss of Commercial Director and close friend Kinga. During that period, ServiceMaster Clean AAA made counselling, exercise sessions and team activities available to support colleagues through their grief.

The business also established Kinga Day on 2 December, ensuring her contribution continues to be remembered.

The experience reinforced Siva’s belief that leadership extends well beyond commercial performance and that supporting people through difficult moments is just as important as celebrating achievements.

“I have never believed in asking people to do something I would not do myself.”

That same approach influences the advice he would give to others entering the industry. Siva believes it is important to understand the business properly, respect those delivering the service, make full use of available systems and avoid pursuing growth before the correct foundations are in place.

One of his biggest lessons has been recognising that a leader cannot do everything alone. As ServiceMaster Clean AAA grew, introducing the right management structure, providing people with clear responsibility and trusting them to deliver allowed Siva to step back from every operational detail and concentrate more closely on future growth.

Despite the scale the organisation has now reached, some of Siva’s greatest satisfaction still comes from seeing individual team members develop.

Today, ServiceMaster Clean AAA supports more than 800 colleagues, while continuing to invest in managers and community initiatives. Its wider work includes support for YMCA DownsLink, police community clubs and sponsorship towards children’s education, reflecting Siva’s belief that the impact of the organisation should reach beyond the contracts it delivers.

His career has already brought a considerable number of professional milestones.

Siva was named European Franchisee of the Year after representing the UK, an achievement he regards as one of the most significant moments of his career.

Further recognition followed at the 2026 Brand Brilliance Awards, where he received Business Leader of the Year, Silver for CEO of the Year and Gold for Employer of the Year.

ServiceMaster Clean AAA has also surpassed its turnover targets and achieved +100 customer NPS, alongside recognition for its workplace culture, community contribution and carbon-neutral leadership.

For Siva, however, awards are not viewed simply as personal accomplishments. He sees them as recognition of the contribution made by the entire team and as encouragement to continue improving.

Receiving the Influential Man in Business Award in Commercial Cleaning & Facilities Services 2026 has strengthened that outlook.

Rather than changing the principles behind his leadership, the recognition has reinforced his focus on expanding territories, developing managers, strengthening teams and protecting the customer-focused culture that has supported ServiceMaster Clean AAA’s growth.

The next milestone is already firmly in sight.

Siva is working towards building a £10 million business by 2027, while continuing to develop the management team, grow Merry Maids and strengthen the company’s approach to sustainability.

The organisation is also preparing for wider changes across commercial environments.

As the way businesses use their premises continues to evolve, so too do expectations around how those spaces are maintained. ServiceMaster Clean AAA is therefore working to broaden its service portfolio, respond to emerging customer requirements, provide frequent team training and make greater use of technology to support both existing and developing markets.

Siva describes the company as still being on a transformational journey, with further projects and opportunities ahead.

His resilience throughout that journey has been tested by moving to a new country, the pressures of business ownership, the pandemic and personal loss. During the most difficult periods, he has remained focused on taking the next practical step rather than becoming overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge.

Family and responsibility to his team have continued to provide that sense of direction.

Reflecting on those who have influenced him, Siva points not towards one individual mentor, but towards his family, colleagues and the people he has worked alongside throughout his career.

The lessons he has carried forward are simple but deeply rooted in experience: respect people, invest in them, remain visible during difficult periods and give others the opportunity to take responsibility.

For Siva, the legacy of a successful business cannot ultimately be measured by financial results alone. It is also reflected in the people developed along the way, the team supported through both good and difficult times, and the contribution the organisation is able to make within the wider community.

Siva Kugathas’ Influential Man in Business Award in Commercial Cleaning & Facilities Services 2026 celebrates not only the growth of ServiceMaster Clean AAA, but the leadership, resilience and people-focused culture that continue to shape its next chapter.

Contact

Phone: 08000 471747
Mobile: 07404879637

Email: siva@servicemasterclean.co.uk

Website: www.servicemasterofficecleaning.co.uk/aaa/