"It has been the highlight of my career to lead Jacobs over these past seven years and work with our outstanding people to transform Jacobs' portfolio, advance our culture, and position the company for even higher levels of growth and success. With a strong foundation and clear trajectory in place, now is the right time to implement our succession plan," Demetriou said. "During Bob Pragada's 16 years with Jacobs, including the last several years as President and COO, he has demonstrated leadership excellence and a strong track record of execution. His passion for innovation and teamwork are evident in our many achievements. The board and I are confident that Bob is the right person to serve as Jacobs' next CEO and continue to accelerate our momentum."
Pragada joined Jacobs in 2006, holding several senior management positions over nine years. He returned to Jacobs in 2016 as President of the global Industrial and Buildings & Infrastructure lines of business, and in 2019, Pragada was appointed President and COO of Jacobs. 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.
"It is an exciting time for Jacobs," Pragada said. "We have just launched our bold new strategy and are at the forefront of our industry — anticipating the global trends most important to our clients and developing differentiated, data-enabled solutions that meet their needs. I am honored to take on the role of CEO early next year and advance the exciting work underway to further diversify our capabilities and offerings, increasing opportunities and value for our people, our clients, and our shareholders alike."
Demetriou will serve as Executive Chair for a minimum of two years, working as a member of the board advising Pragada on strategic and capital deployment initiatives. He will provide executive sponsorship for several key client engagements and ongoing culture initiatives, and will also continue as a board member of PA Consulting.
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Following Demetriou's appointment as CEO in 2015, he set in motion a strategic and cultural transformation anchored on growth and inclusion. Galvanizing elements included formalizing Jacobs' purpose of creating a more connected, sustainable world and establishing the company's core values. To reflect the company's transformation, he also unveiled Jacobs' new brand and brand promise.
Demetriou has personally championed inclusion, and today, Jacobs' Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors are 67 percent and 50 percent diverse respectively across gender and ethnicity. In 2021, he established Jacobs' Office of Global Climate Response & ESG to provide focus and accountability on the company's efforts to address climate change.
