Houston energy engineering firm names new CEO, president in latest management shuffle

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RAY GIRARD/NYSE Euronext via Bloomberg News

Pictured: Officials and guests of Willbros Group Inc. rang the NYSE Euronext closing bell in 2007. Robert "Randy" Harl, who has stepped down as CEO, is third from the left, front row.

Olivia Pulsinelli

Web producer- Houston Business Journal

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Willbros Group Inc. (NYSE: WG) is getting a new CEO earlier than expected, and it also named a new president, a role it filled just a few months earlier.

The Houston-based energy engineering and contracting firm said late Oct. 21 that Robert "Randy" Harl relinquished his CEO and director positions, and John McNabb II has been named CEO. Harl had planned to retire on Jan. 2, 2015.

McNabb was named Willbros' executive chairman of the board on an interim basis last month when Harl announced his retirement. McNabb was expected to step down from the role and continue to serve as a director once Harl's successor was in place, but the company said he will retain the chairman role along with his new position.

McNabb comes from the Houston office of financial firm Duff & Phelps, which he joined in 2011 and served as vice chairman of mergers and acquisitions, according to the firm's website.

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Additionally, Earl Collins resigned as president after assuming the role July 1. Harl earlier this year relinquished the role to Collins, who now "will pursue opportunities outside of Willbros," according to the company's statement.

Willbros named Michael Fournier president, and he will retain the COO role that he assumed in July.

Many other Willbros executives shuffled roles this year.

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Olivia Pulsinelli is the web producer for the Houston Business Journal's award-winning website. Follow her on Twitter for more.