SNC-Lavalin announces changes to its senior executive team: Neil Bruce, OBE, joins firm as head of new business group

MONTREAL, Jan. 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Following ongoing strategic planning sessions, SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) announces a number of changes to its senior executive team.

Effective January 21, 2013, Neil Bruce, formerly Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AMEC, will assume the newly created role of President, Resources & Environment, and will become a member of the Office of the President. This newly formed group will include the Company's global business in hydrocarbons and chemicals (H&C), mining and metallurgy (M&M), environment, and water.

Resources & Environment will be the largest and most diverse business unit in the Company with activities in most of the 100 countries where SNC-Lavalin is present. Mr. Bruce's role will be to oversee a global growth strategy for these sectors and will be based in London, UK. Dale Clarke, Executive Vice-President M&M and Ric Sorbo, Acting Executive Vice-President H&C, will report to Mr. Bruce.

Mr. Bruce has spent more than thirty years in the oil and gas, mining, and energy industries worldwide, with extensive experience in change management and organizational development to create operational efficiencies and strategic growth. He has held a variety of leadership roles, from directing international expansion to overseeing high-value consultancy, engineering and project management services at AMEC. As COO, he identified, negotiated and integrated a number of acquisitions to bring the company to over 30,000 employees present in 40 countries at his departure. With his excellent customer relationships and knowledge of the resources and environment sectors, as well as key stakeholders worldwide, Mr. Bruce is well-positioned to assume leadership of this group and to focus on building a strong platform on which to increase long term global net income and growth.

SNC-Lavalin has also created a Global Operations group. Christian Jacqui, formerly Executive Vice-President, Europe, has been assigned a new role as Executive Vice-President, Global Operations. This role will oversee the globalization of the Company's operations to complement the existing global operating structure by sector of activity. This position will be based in London, UK.

Michael Novak will assume new responsibilities as Executive Vice-President for Global Government, Aboriginal and Economic Affairs, based in Montreal. This role recognizes the importance of these subjects to our clients and the Company in successful project delivery. This position is based in Montreal.

Patrick Lamarre has resigned as Executive Vice-President, Global Power, effective immediately and will be replaced on an interim basis by Scott Thon, the current president of the company's wholly-owned regulated subsidiary, AltaLink.  Mr. Lamarre has agreed to remain available until June 1, 2013, to ensure a smooth transition.  For regulatory reasons, the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) division will report directly to Robert Card, President, as long as Mr. Thon is the interim head of Power.

"These changes represent part of our ongoing effort to further strengthen the Company's management structure and extend its scope," reported Robert Card, President and CEO since October 1, 2012. "I welcome Neil on board and I'm looking forward to having him share his deep and broad experience with the rest of the team as we move forward. These announcements are an opportunity to unroll some of the Company's preliminary strategic orientation, of which there will be more to follow in the months to come."

Mr. Card added, "I would like to extend my thanks to Patrick for his past service and contributions to the Company and wish him all the best for his future endeavors."

Since March 2012, the Company has initiated and enacted various plans to restructure and reinforce areas such as governance, ethics, compliance and operational excellence while maintaining a strong and stable base from which SNC-Lavalin can continue to serve its roster of top caliber international clients.

SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin has offices across Canada and in over 40 other countries around the world, and is currently working in some 100 countries.
www.snclavalin.com.

SOURCE: SNC-LAVALIN