Top 400 Contractors 2014: Q&A With Bill Dudley, Bechtel New CEO

In February, Riley Bechtel stepped down as CEO of Bechtel (No. 1) after being diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease. Bill Dudley, Bechtel's president, stepped in as the first non-family member to be CEO in the company's 116-year history.

ENR: Tell us about your background.

I have been with Bechtel for 33 years, living and working in Asia, Europe, Africa and the U.S. I was appointed head of Bechtel's oil-and-gas group in 2001, and that went pretty well, so I was named president in 2008.

Do you plan any changes at the firm?

Dudley

Not at all. This transition didn't happen for market or strategic reasons but for health reasons. We had a detailed succession plan in place. We like to grow our own, rather than look outside the company for new leadership. So, when Riley fell ill, he thought it best to step back and allow others to run the day-to-day operations of the company.

How is Riley doing?

He is doing really well. He continues to be our chairman and is actively engaged in the company.

What are your immediate plans?

We plan to continue to grow organically and move into markets where we have expertise and can add value. The key is to target markets with long-term growth potential, not just whatever is available now.

What markets are you looking at?

We are already moving into offshore oil work. But now we are also looking at the water market, mostly large-scale programs such as dams and hydroelectric [but] not down to the municipal level. Water is going to be critical to the developing world for the foreseeable future.

Where do you see Bechtel heading in the future?

I see us continuing as a privately-owned, family-run company. Riley's son Brendan is now in charge of our oil-and-gas business, and I would be happy to see him take over in a few years.

KEYWORDS: ENR Top 400 Contractors

Gary J. Tulacz had been, since 1993, senior editor in charge of ENR's Top Lists, which bring structure to the huge global construction industry through annual surveys and market analysis of its key segments and major players. The array of surveys rank companies, based both in the U.S. and outside, which perform general contracting, specialty contracting, engineering, architecture and environmental services, among other specialties.

The rankings, based on annual revenue from work at home and abroad, are further divided into specific market categories. Click here for descriptions and schedules of ENR Top List surveys and access to information on current and past listed firms.

Gary also created the ENR Top 100 Green Contractors and Design Firms rankings and the ENR quarterly Construction Industry Confidence Index that measures firm executives' market outlook.

This survey data is used by industry firms and other businesses, government agencies and academics also to gauge the health of the global construction market.

A graduate of Fordham College in New York City and the Fordham University School of Law, Gary previously wrote extensively on employee relations in such areas as labor and immigration law and employee drug testing.

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