Robert Prieto, former chairman of Parsons Brinckerhoff, New York City, has joined Fluor Corp., Aliso Viejo, Calif., as senior vice president in its infrastructure group, where he will manage global strategic planning and business development activities. The company says he will also "support" business development in its government and industrial group.

Prieto stepped down last fall from the PB position, where he managed corporate and strategic development, communications and new initiatives, among other activities. He had been at the engineering giant for more than 20 years and helped boost its revenue "25 fold," according to Fluor.

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In his new role at Fluor, Prieto says he will seek to boost the engineer-contractor's role in design-build and design-build-finance infrastructure projects, particularly as new opportunities arise for private financing initiatives in cash-strapped states. Prieto points to the water infrastructure market and potentially to a recovering telecom sector.

Prieto "will be charged with leveraging his strong business relationships and proven leadership capabilities to support our objective to expand Fluor's market share in key industries," says Steve Dobbs, president of Fluor's infrastructure group. Prieto is one of three presidential appointees to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a global organization that pushes economic growth and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. He also co-chaired the New York City Partnership's Infrastructure Task Force, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Fluor has also promoted John L. Hopkins to president of its government group, replacing Ronald W. Oakley, who left the firm after 24 years to become CEO of Lend Lease Americas, the New York City-based contractor. Hopkins had been group executive for corporate development and strategy of the government group, which handles federal government clients and projects. He has held a number of top positions at Fluor since joining in 1984, including group executive of Fluor Global Services and president of TradeMC, the capital goods sourcing joint venture with IBM Corp.