BE&K Building Group names David L. Richter CEO

BE&K Building Group appointed David L. Richter as chief executive officer effective immediately, with longtime CEO Frank Holley moving to chairman in a planned succession. The leadership change comes as the construction firm looks to extend growth, strengthen operations and stay focused on safety, service and client delivery.

Why it matters: - BE&K Building Group is handing day-to-day leadership to a new CEO while keeping continuity at the top through a planned transition. - The move affects a national design-build and construction management company with more than 55 years of experience. - The change comes as BE&K looks to keep growing, invest in employees and create long-term value for stakeholders.

What happened: - BE&K Building Group appointed David L. Richter, PE, PMP, CCQM, as chief executive officer, effective immediately. - Frank Holley, who had served as CEO since 2019, moved to chairman as part of the succession plan. - Nidal Zayed, chairman, president and CEO of Pernix Group, said the transition builds on BE&K’s recent growth and prepares the company for its next phase. - Holley said he will work closely with Richter over the next several months during the transition. - BE&K said the company will continue under the support of its leadership team and parent company, Pernix Group.

The details: - Richter brings more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, project management, infrastructure development, corporate law and governance, and mergers and acquisitions in engineering and construction. - Before joining BE&K, Richter was executive vice president and chief growth officer at Atwell. - Atwell said Richter led strategic growth efforts that doubled the firm’s annual revenue in four years. - Prior to Atwell, Richter spent 22 years at Hill International. - At Hill International, he advanced from general counsel to group president to chief operating officer and then chief executive officer. - Hill International’s annual revenue grew from less than $20 million to more than $620 million during his tenure. - Richter holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Oxford, Harvard University and Columbia University. - Richter is licensed as a professional engineer in Illinois, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. - Richter also holds credentials as a Project Management Professional, Certified Construction Quality Manager and Chartered Construction Manager. - Richter has been named a Fellow of both the Construction Management Association of America and the Chartered Institute of Building. - BE&K provides design-build and construction management services for diverse industries nationwide. - The company’s announcement includes more information at the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The succession keeps leadership in-house, with Holley moving to chairman rather than exiting the business. - Richter’s background combines legal, technical and growth leadership experience, which signals a focus on scaling a complex construction business. - Pernix Group appears to be emphasizing both continuity and a growth-oriented reset under new leadership.

What’s next: - Richter will lead BE&K as the company executes its strategic priorities and continues client work. - Holley and Richter will overlap during the transition period. - BE&K said it will keep focusing on safe delivery, employee investment and long-term stakeholder value.

The bottom line: - BE&K is betting on a seasoned operator with deep construction-industry credentials to carry the company into its next growth phase.