February 15, 2023

Balfour Beatty announces senior leadership changes within its US Civils business appointing Mark Johnnie to the chief operating officer (COO) and Kelly Phariss to vice president of West operations. The appointments support intentional and strategic planning of the company’s highways and bridges, rail and water businesses to expand Balfour Beatty’s Civils operations across the company’s chosen geographic footprint.

As COO, Mark will lead the company’s commitment to operational excellence spanning all vertical markets including highway and bridges, rail, and water. Mark will work with leaders throughout the business to ensure consistency in execution, high-quality standards, client experiences are delivered, and industry-leading operational processes are embedded across verticals. In addition to his COO responsibilities, Mark will maintain his current role overseeing the highway and bridge work across the Southeast and will now expand to cover the Southwest. A Balfour Beatty teammate since 1998, Mark has a track record of consistent delivery in the Southeast, deep knowledge of the market sector, and a strong commitment to fostering the company’s Civils construction capability to clients.

Kelly Phariss has been promoted to vice president where he will head operations in the West managing its diverse project portfolio within the rail, highways, bridges, and water sectors in California, Oregon, and Washington. Kelly is a long-time Balfour Beatty Civils teammate and critical leader on Los Angeles World Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) project. He will remain deputy director on the LAX APM project in addition to his new role where he will also support and pursue opportunities that blend scopes of work involving the company’s expert Buildings and Civils construction services.

Commenting on leadership changes, Balfour Beatty’s Civils President and US Rail Managing Director Mark Konchar, said: “Our Civils business continues to experience significant progress with excellent opportunities on the horizon. Mark and Kelly’s appointments will not only strengthen, grow and sustain our operations but support intentional strategies that focus on engaging select market sectors across the nation.

“At the same time, these leadership changes are a key investment in preserving the fabric of our people-first culture and values which is vital to our teammates’ development and business success.  

I’m excited to work alongside Mark and Kelly in maintaining the momentum that promotes Balfour Beatty’s US Civils business as a thriving and bright place to work as well as executing strategies that offer the outstanding capability to clients.”