Global oil-and-gas services giant Wood Group plc has elevated Michele McNichol to CEO of its Houston engineering unit Wood Group Mustang Inc. Formerly executive vice president and president of its upstream business unit, she succeeds Steve Knowles, who will retire April 1, says the firm. Wood Group Mustang ranks at No. 17 on ENR’s list of the Top 500 Design Firms, with $1.25 billion in global 2013 revenue. The Scotland-based parent also named Bob MacDonald CEO of its Wood Group Kenny unit. Formerly regional director of North Sea operations, he replaces Steve Wayman, who now is corporate head of strategy and development. Dave Stewart also is named CEO, effective in April, of Wood Group PSN, the company’s Scotland-based facility production services unit. Formerly UK regional manager, he will succeed Robin Watson, who was promoted to a newly-created corporate COO role. Wood Group is a $7-billion firm that operates in more than 50 countries. Corporate CEO Bob Keiller announced 2014 revenue and profit growth in a Feb. 17 earnings call, but he declined to give 2015 earnings guidance because of uncertain market conditions. The firm, which already has cut contractor rates and frozen some employee salaries, also may shed workers, say UK media. Keiller did not speculate on the locations, size or timing of any layoffs.
James Bernhard, former chairman and CEO of power-industrial contracting giant Shaw Group Inc., has formed a new energy services holding company—called Bernhard—that could compete with CB&I, which bought Shaw in a $3-billion deal in 2013. The new venture follows the expiration of Bernhard’s two-year non-compete agreement with CB&I.