Parsons Brinckerhoff names new CEO

NEW YORK, NY — Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has announced the appointment of George J. Pierson as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2010. Mr. Pierson, currently president and COO of the firm’s Americas division, succeeds Keith J. Hawksworth, who becomes chairman. Mr. Pierson, who will continue as president and COO of PB’s Americas division, assumes the management of a professional services company with 15,000 employees in 150 offices worldwide and 2009 revenues of $2.1 billion. Parsons Brinckerhoff was acquired by Balfour Beatty, an international engineering, construction, professional services and investment group, in October, 2009 and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Balfour Beatty.

Mr. Pierson, a licensed engineer and lawyer, joined PB as General Counsel and Secretary in February, 2006. He was appointed COO of the Americas division in January, 2008, and as such was responsible for overseeing the efforts of more than 5,000 PB employees who work on transportation and other infrastructure projects in the U.S., Canada and South America. Prior to joining PB he was Partner and Director of the International Construction Practice Group of Peckar & Abramson, PC, a leading national construction law firm. Mr. Pierson has a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an MBA from St. Mary’s College of California, an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University.

“George has performed brilliantly in progressively responsible leadership positions since joining PB,” said Mr. Hawksworth. “His elevation to CEO is a logical progression and ensures that PB has the right leadership going forward.”

“I am honored and humbled to take the helm of PB at this important moment in its 125-year history,” said Mr. Pierson, who will report to Balfour Beatty Chief Executive Ian Tyler. “I look forward to working with Balfour Beatty management to make PB the leading professional services firm in our industry.”

Mr. Hawksworth has been with PB for 33 years. He was named CEO in January, 2008 and led a two-year strategic planning process that resulted in a merger with Balfour Beatty that was approved by 99 percent of PB’s stockholders in October, 2009. “Having achieved the strategic objective of a larger, more diversified company that has the resources to remain competitive going forward, I believe the time is right for me to turn the management of the company over to George” he said.

Mr. Hawksworth succeeds James L. Lammie as PB’s Chairman. Mr. Lammie served as Chairman of the Board of Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. from March, 2008 to October 2009 and was a Director of the company from 1983 through 1999 and 2006 to 2007. He was the firm’s CEO from 1990 to 1996 and President and COO of the firm’s Americas infrastructure company from 1982 to 1990. He retired as a PB employee in 2006 after 30 years with the firm.

“Jim Lammie has been among the most influential leaders of PB in its history and it is an honor to succeed him as Chairman,” said Mr. Hawksworth.