Pragada takes over at Jacobs
Bob Pragada has taken over as chief executive of $15bn engineering and power consultancy Jacobs.
He is expected to join the Company’s Board of Directors upon certification of the results of its Annual Meeting today.
Pragada, previously Chief Operating Officer, says he remains focused on continuing efforts to focus on electric vehicles, the energy transition, and semiconductor manufacturing.
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Jacobs is involved with multiple European infrastructure projects and owns PA Consulting in the UK. Pragada was instrumental in Jacobs’ strategic majority investment in PA Consulting, where he now serves as a Board member. The company is also a key supplier to US space agency NASA and working on the infrastructure for a vertical spaceport in Scotland.
He brings more than 30 years of global business leadership and military experience to Jacobs, including 17 years with the company and nine years as a Civil Engineer Corps and Seabees Officer with the US Navy. Pragada is the second Indian American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Subsequently, he is the first Indian American, veteran and person of colour appointed as CEO of Jacobs.
“It is an exciting time for Jacobs,” said Pragada. “Concentrating our strategy accelerators around climate response, data solutions, and consulting and advisory services, we’re anticipating the global trends most important to our clients to develop differentiated, data-enabled solutions that meet their needs. I am honoured to take on the role of CEO and advance the compelling work underway to further diversify our capabilities and offerings, increasing opportunities and value for our people, our clients and our shareholders alike.”
In 2019, Pragada was appointed President and COO of Jacobs, providing executive oversight of all global operations, driving impressive profitable growth across the Company’s Critical Mission Solutions and People & Places Solutions lines of business. He has been instrumental in developing and leading the successful execution of Jacobs’ strategy, as well as driving global integrated delivery of Jacobs’ operations around the world as a differentiator in the industry.
