SNC-Lavalin COO switches to CEO position

SNC-Lavalin’s COO Neil Bruce will become President and CEO of the group, and a member of the Board of Directors, succeeding Robert G. Card, effective October 5, 2015.

Lawrence Stevenson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canada-based engineering and construction group, noted that the upcoming handover from Rober Card to Neil Bruce, who was named COO in April, comes at an important stage in the group’s development.

Stevenson added: “Bob’s tenure left a strong legacy during a critical time for the company, with a far-reaching transformation that changed the face of the executive team, repositioned the company strategically through the sale of AltaLink and the acquisition of Kentz among others, as well as turned its ethics and compliance system into a benchmark for the industry.

“We are in the right position to become a Tier-1 engineering & construction firm going forward and on behalf of the Board, I thank Bob for his leadership and tireless dedication. He will remain as an advisor to the Board and CEO.”

“Neil’s appointment comes as we embark on the next stage of the company’s evolution. Over the past two and a half years, he led the company’s mining and metallurgy and oil and gas businesses, including the acquisition of Kentz and its successful integration that transformed SNC-Lavalin’s oil and gas business. The Board is thrilled to have a leader of his caliber with deep project management and execution experience to lead and grow the company.”

Bruce has over 30 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry. SNC-Lavalin notes that he has a comprehensive understanding of the four sectors in which SNC-Lavalin operates. Since joining the company in January 2013, Bruce transformed the Oil & Gas business – from a niche 3,000-employee player into a 20,000-strong, world-class organization, the company said.

Before joining SNC-Lavalin, Bruce held a variety of leadership roles, including Executive Director and COO at AMEC, where he directed the company’s international expansion and high-value consultancy, engineering and project management services.

“I am proud to have been selected by the Board as President and CEO of SNC-Lavalin, a company with a strong balance sheet, so much growth potential and a bright future ahead,” stated Neil Bruce.

“We have some of the best leaders in our industry and a highly capable workforce of 40,000 employees that our global clients count on every day. Together, we will deliver improved results and returns as we continue to improve operational efficiency, while managing the remaining legacy issues. I have already met many employees, clients and partners around the world and look forward to meeting many more over the coming weeks and months to share further details on the next phase of our strategic plan. On a personal note, while I will continue to travel around the world, my family and I are happy to have moved to Montreal, Canada, earlier this year.”

“I leave the company in the very capable hands of Neil,” stated Robert G. Card.

“He has been a key pillar of SNC-Lavalin’s transformation to date and has shown the superior leadership skills and industry expertise that will propel SNC-Lavalin forward in the future. We will work closely to ensure a seamless transition until my departure. I would like to thank all our employees around the world for their unwavering dedication to safety, ethics and compliance, as well as the passion and expertise they show every day to build what matters for our clients and communities around the world.”

The group said that position of COO would not be refilled, and the presidents of the company’s four business sectors would continue to report to Bruce.

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