Pierson named chief executive officer at Parsons Brinckerhoff

Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has appointed George Pierson as the firm's chief executive officer effective January 1. Pierson, currently president and chief operating officer (COO) of the firm's Americas division, succeeds Keith Hawksworth, who becomes chairman. Pierson, who will continue as president and COO of PB's Americas division, assumes the management of a professional services company with 15,000 employees in 150 offices worldwide and 2009 revenues of $2.1 billion. Parsons Brinckerhoff was acquired by Balfour Beatty, an international engineering, construction, professional services and investment group, in October, 2009 and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Balfour Beatty. Pierson, a licensed engineer and lawyer, joined PB as general counsel and secretary in February, 2006. He was appointed COO of the Americas division in January, 2008, and as such was responsible for overseeing the efforts of more than 5,000 PB employees who work on transportation and other infrastructure projects in the U.S., Canada and South America. Prior to joining PB he was partner and director of the International Construction Practice Group of Peckar & Abramson, PC, a leading national construction law firm. Pierson has a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an MBA from St. Mary's College of California, an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University. "George has performed brilliantly in progressively responsible leadership positions since joining PB," said Hawksworth. "His elevation to CEO is a logical progression and ensures that PB has the right leadership going forward." "I am honored and humbled to take the helm of PB at this important moment in its 125-year history," said Pierson, who will report to Balfour Beatty chief executive Ian Tyler. "I look forward to working with Balfour Beatty management to make PB the leading professional services firm in our industry."