In a planned succession, Black & Veatch has elevated Steve L. Edwards to chairman, president and CEO, effective in January. Named immediately to what the firm tells ENR is a first-time company role as chief operating officer, he will succeed Leonard C. Rodman, who has been president and CEO since 1998 and chairman since 2000. Edwards, who had been executive vice president, also is executive director of global EPC for the Overland Park, Kan., firm's global energy business. Rodman, 64, who the company says will retire in 2014, is a 42-year veteran.