Jacobs expands roles for two execs
By
Ross Wilkers
Jacobs Engineering Group expands the responsibilities for two of its executives amid the company's ongoing evolution with respect to its federal presence.
Jacobs Engineering Group said Monday it has added the title of president for a pair of executives in a move that gives them expanded leadership roles, effective Dec. 1.
Bob Pragada, one of Jacobs’ segment leaders, was appointed president and chief operating officer to oversee all global operations of the company. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Berryman will also receive the additional title of president and lead Jacobs’ digital and IT functions.
Pragada will continue in his other role as president of the buildings, infrastructure and advanced facilities segment -- one of two alongside the aerospace, technology and nuclear business that houses a bulk of Jacobs’ federal government work.
Dawne Hickton, executive vice president and COO of the “ATN” business, will report to Pragada. Hickton became head of the ATN segment in May.
Appointed CFO in 2015, Berryman leads Jacobs’ merger-and-acquisition strategy that has included a series of deals for federal technology services companies and the nearly $3.3 billion buy of fellow global engineering outfit CH2M Hill in 2017.
Most recently in June, Jacobs closed the $815 million purchase of KeyW Corp. to add a product portfolio centered around intelligence and data collection.
The KeyW transaction was preceded by the 2017 acquisition Blue Canopy that grew Jacobs’ civilian presence and added cyber analytics skills, plus the 2016 deal for Van Dyke Technology Group that grew cybersecurity work with defense and intelligence agencies.