Hoe Wai Cheong and Ed Walsh Selected to Lead the Company’s Oil & Gas and Power Businesses
With continued growth and expansion in its Oil & Gas and Power businesses, Black & Veatch today announced the appointment of two senior leaders to guide its Energy-focused operations. The decision comes after the announcement that Dean Oskvig, current President and CEO of the company’s Energy business, will retire after 40 years of service. Oskvig will continue in his leadership role through the remainder of 2015 while guiding a transition period for Hoe Wai Cheong, President, Oil & Gas; and Ed Walsh, President, Power. Both will report to Steve Edwards, Black & Veatch Chairman & CEO.
“The company has great confidence in Hoe Wai and Ed based on their global experience and project management capabilities. They both have led challenging assignments during their careers and they are well positioned to guide the company’s global energy operations into the future,” said Edwards.
Based in Singapore, Cheong is currently Executive Vice President and Executive Director, EPC Projects for Black & Veatch. He leads Black & Veatch’s EPC business for Energy throughout the world. Cheong is responsible for global strategy, business development, and project acquisition and execution. He joined Black & Veatch in 2007 and became a member of the company’s Executive Committee in 2011. Cheong also brings more than 25 years of industrial experience in the oil & gas, petrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors globally to the role.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the Oil & Gas business and having also spent time building the Power business in Asia, I feel both businesses are on a strong foundation and well-positioned to continue to grow. In particular, some of the recent successes the company had in the LNG sector create an excellent platform to grow our portfolio in the Oil & Gas market,” said Cheong. He added that the scale of both businesses, when combined with Black & Veatch’s offerings in Management Consulting, Special Projects, Telecom and Water uniquely position the company to leverage its full strength of resources.
Walsh joined Black & Veatch in 2003 and is currently Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Global Services Projects within Black & Veatch’s Energy business. He is responsible for overseeing and implementing strategies, processes and tools to further enhance the company’s service offerings, client satisfaction and continued growth. Throughout his more than 40-year career in the engineering and construction industry, Walsh has had the opportunity to work for clients around the world, helping them meet their energy needs. Current project activities regularly take him to South Africa, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, India, China, Southeast Asia and throughout the Americas.
“The company has a tremendous opportunity to deliver more landmark projects,” said Walsh. “We have diversified our portfolio globally and today we have more clients than ever in the history of the company.
"Given the strengths in the markets we serve around the world, there is a great ability to achieve our long-term strategy and meet our clients’ evolving needs.”
Steve Edwards, Black & Veatch Chairman & CEO
Oskvig became President and CEO of the company’s Energy business in 2006, and is responsible for determining strategies and business direction, developing talent, managing risk, and delivering annual and long-term profit. He joined the Black & Veatch Board of Directors in 2006 and serves on the Investment Review Board. He earned his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Iowa in 1972 and later received his MBA from the University of Utah. Oskvig also served as an officer in the United States Air Force for three years. He started with Black & Veatch in 1975, and prior to his current position, was Chief Operating Officer for the company’s Energy business. In addition, he has served as President of the Power Delivery Division and held numerous other leadership positions for the company. Oskvig is Chairman of the Electric Power Research Institute Advisory Council, Vice Chair North America of the World Energy Council, and member of the United States Energy Association Board of Directors.
“Within the first month I worked at Black & Veatch, I was introduced to a retired Mobil Oil executive. As I was introduced that gentlemen said, ‘Black & Veatch is the finest organization in the world.’ I don’t know how he came to that conclusion, but it was great start for me. And recently, in India, a client’s executive who I had just met started our conversation with ‘everyone knows Black & Veatch is the best power designer in the world.’ I’ve had that ‘wind to my back’ the whole 40 years,” said Oskvig.
Editors Notes:
- Cheong earned both bachelors and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Aston in Birmingham, UK.
- Walsh graduated from Utica College, Utica, New York, with a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Business.
- Please click the following hyperlinks to download a high-resolution photograph of Dean Oskvig, Hoe Wai Cheong and Ed Walsh.
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About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2018 were US$3.5 billion. Follow us on social media.
