Rob Ward- Leading a Unique Developer Who Self Finances (#54) - a podcast by Coe Enterprises

from 2021-11-17T08:00

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Bio

Robert Ward, President & CEO, Skanska USA Commercial Development

As President and CEO, Robert is responsible for setting strategic direction – with focus on growing Skanska’s development operations in its existing markets in Boston, Houston, Seattle, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles; improving operational effectiveness and efficiency; and evaluating new market expansion opportunities. Robert, with his leadership team, launched the company’s U.S. commercial development business in 2009. Since then, his team has developed headquarter offices for Brooks Sports, PwC (also known as PricewaterhouseCoopers) and Tommy Bahama.

Robert’s career in both the real estate development and construction industries spans over 20 years. Prior to becoming CEO, Robert served as Chief Operating Officer for Skanska USA Commercial Development. As COO, he drove several key components of the company’s development operations; which included evaluating all project investments, refining national leasing and customer strategy, exploring new market opportunities and managing the group’s professional service functions.

Since joining Skanska in 2002, Robert has managed more than $2 billion in projects in gateway cities across the country. Earlier in his tenure, he served as both the Executive Vice President of development operations in Washington, D.C. and the EVP of development operations in Houston. Under his leadership the group secured Bank of America as anchor tenant for the 754,000 square-foot office tower located in downtown Houston. While in DC, he was instrumental in the completion of the company’s first self-financed office development, 733 10^th Street Northwest, which Skanska completed in 2011. And in 2019, he oversaw the launch of Skanska’s first commercial real estate development division in Los Angeles, CA.

Robert serves on the Board of Trustees of the Federal City Council and the Board of Directors of the First Tee of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., the Virginia Tech Program in Real Estate Emeriti Board, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Skanska Commercial Development Europe. Robert is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Show Notes

Lead senior team at Skanska Development US. (4:15)
Reports to Claes Larsson (5:00)
Commercial development in Europe and the US (5:15)

Origins

Grew up in a military family- Dad was an Air Force officer in intelligence (5:45)