Sytchev speculated in an April 15 note that "some will question how aggressively the consortium had to be bid in order to secure the contract."

But the analyst also emphasized the importance of "SNC scoring a sizeable contract in a division that has been project and execution challenged and has been the segment impacting the firm's overall [engineering and construction] performance due to numerous negative profit reforecasts over the last two years." 

He termed the bridge selection as "a strong vote of confidence for SNC’s ability to secure government work, which he said makes up most if its infrastructure and O&M division revenue and half in its power division. The firm also is bidding for the multi-billion-dollar Eglinton subway line project in Toronto, with engineer Aecon, and against Bechtel, according to Sytchev.

"If the company is not successful in securing the work, we believe that the division would likely need to reassess its positioning   and capabilities offering," says Sytchev. But he also speculates that infrastructure "will constitute a smaller percentage of the company’s pie," as it diversifies more into energy and power sectors.

The push into those sectors is one factor in the elevation of Neil Bruce to a newly created role as chief operating officer. He had headed the firm's mining and oil-and-gas business and its environment and water practice. Bruce, who will relocate to Montreal from London, led SNC-Lavalin's $1.7-billion acquisition in 2014 of U.K. oil-and-gas constructor Kentz Corp., reports Canada's Financial Post publication.

According to media and analyst speculation, the new role for Bruce will allow company CEO Robert Card to focus on the firm's ongoing legal challenges. They relate to federal criminal charges filed against SNC-Lavalin in February for alleged bribes of government officials by former executives that could bar it from government work if convicted. With the bridge award decision, fears that the firm would not get the contract "are overblown," said Sytchev.

In what analysts see as an effort to add operational control, engineer-constructor SNC-Lavalin, Montreal, has elevated Neil Bruce to a newly created chief operating officer role. He had headed the firm's mining and oil-and-gas business and its environment and water practice. Bruce, who will relocate to Montreal from London, led SNC-Lavalin's $1.7-billion acquisition in 2014 of U.K. oil-and-gas constructor Kentz Corp., reports Canada's Financial Post publication.

But SNC-Lavalin also said on April 14 that Hisham Mahmoud, president of its infrastructure group, will depart next month. He was hired in January 2014 for what also was a new position. Succeeding him is Executive Vice President Ian L. Edwards, who joined the firm late last year. Maxim

According to media and analyst speculation, the new role for Bruce will allow company CEO Robert Card to focus on the firm's ongoing legal challenges. They relate to federal criminal charges filed against SNC-Lavalin in February for alleged bribes of government officials by former executives that could bar it from government work if convicted. With the bridge award decision, fears that the firm would not get the contract "are overblown," said Sytchev.