The U.S. arm of London-based contractor Balfour Beatty tapped two executives for lead roles in the firm’s Carolinas and California divisions, the builder announced on May 3.
Balfour Beatty picked Jeff Sandeen as president of the company’s Carolinas operations, and Emily Kay as incoming president of its California division, per the release. Sandeen’s appointment was effective on May 3. Kay will take the position on January 1, 2025 after current California President Brain Cahill retires at the end of the year.
Both incoming leads have been with Balfour Beatty for 10 years. Sandeen was previously senior vice president in the Carolinas and was a project manager for Greeley, Colorado-based Hensel Phelps prior to joining Balfour Beatty, according to his LinkedIn profile.
As senior vice president, Sandeen provided strategic oversight in the Carolinas, and led teams through projects such as Forsyth County’s modernized courthouse and the delivery of Raleigh-Durham Airport’s Runway 5L/23R Replacement construction program, per the release.
Emily Kay has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, per the release. Before joining the firm, she spent a decade at HMC Architects, where she was an associate senior construction administrator, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Kay is currently vice president of operations for the firm’s California region. While in that role, she’s helped teams complete projects that include K-12 additions, modernizations and new builds. Kay also spearheaded the expansion of Balfour Beatty’s special projects operations in the Los Angeles area.
Kay will succeed Cahill, who is retiring after 31 years with the company. She will work in a transitional role until assuming her new desk.
These aren’t the first public personnel moves the firm has made this year — in March, Balfour Beatty promoted three leaders to executive positions within its US Civils division.
