Robert Ledford
About Robert Ledford
Robert (Bob) Ledford, 61, is an independent director appointed to Orion Group Holdings’ Board effective November 19, 2025. He holds a BA in Finance with a minor in Economics from Washington State University (1986) and brings 35+ years of construction/engineering leadership across global operations, project delivery, and P&L oversight; the Board has affirmatively determined his independence under NYSE and Orion guidelines . He will stand for election as a Class I Director at the 2026 Annual Meeting; he has not yet been assigned to any Board committees and will receive a pro‑rated annual equity award consistent with other non‑employee directors .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AECOM (NYSE: ACM) | Chief Operating Officer, Middle East Operations | 2013–2014 | Led regional operations; executive accountability for delivery excellence |
| AECOM | Global Head of Project Delivery | 2015 | Global responsibility for project delivery standards |
| AECOM | COO, Design & Consulting Services, Americas | 2016–2019 | Oversaw multi‑billion P&Ls; operational execution across geographies |
| Parsons (NYSE: PSN) | CFO, Civil Construction; COO, Water & Infrastructure; Global Water and MENA Director of Infrastructure | 2005–2013 | Finance and operations leadership in infrastructure; international expansion |
| Sasco Electric; Hermanson Corporation | Chief Financial Officer | Over a decade (prior to 2005) | Disciplined financial management; capital allocation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Sector/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Electric | President & CEO; Director | 2019–Present | Electrical/low‑voltage contracting; significant expansion and profitability |
| Trademark Concrete | Director | 2023–Present | Concrete services; West Coast focus |
No current public company directorships disclosed for Ledford .
Board Governance
- Board expanded from seven to eight directors with Ledford’s appointment; separation of Chair (Austin J. Shanfelter) and CEO (Travis J. Boone) is maintained, supporting oversight independence .
- Independence: Board maintains a majority of independent directors per NYSE rules; committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Governance) composed exclusively of independent directors .
- Majority voting policy: In uncontested elections, nominees failing to receive more “FOR” than “AGAINST” are expected to tender resignation .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board held six meetings; all directors attended ≥75% of Board/committee meetings and all attended the 2024 Annual Meeting. Non‑management directors hold regular executive sessions at Board and committee meetings .
- Committee chairs: Audit—Mary E. Sullivan; Compensation—Margaret M. Foran; Nominating & Governance—Thomas N. Amonett .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2024 Program Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non‑employee director) | $90,000 | Increased by $5,000 in May 2024; paid quarterly |
| Board Chair additional cash fee | $100,000 | Increased by $5,000 in May 2024 |
| Committee chair additional cash fee | $15,000 | Increased by $5,000 in May 2024 |
| Annual equity grant (non‑employee director) | $100,000 | Increased by $10,000 in May 2024; 10,695 shares granted on May 16, 2024 (per director) |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | Program is retainer + annual equity; travel/lodging reimbursed |
- Ledford will receive a pro‑rated annual equity grant in common stock at start of service and participate in other director compensation programs on the same basis as other non‑employee directors .
Performance Compensation
- Directors do not receive performance‑based bonuses; annual equity is time‑based common stock, not options. Orion currently does not grant stock options; director equity grants were made in shares of common stock (e.g., 10,695 shares in 2024 per director) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship to ORN | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Electric (CEO; Director) | Contractor in electrical/low‑voltage | No related‑party transactions requiring disclosure; independence affirmed |
| Trademark Concrete (Director) | Concrete services | No related‑party transactions requiring disclosure; independence affirmed |
Audit Committee oversight of related‑party transactions is formalized; Orion reported no related‑party transactions since January 1, 2024 .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep construction/engineering operations expertise; global COO roles and multi‑billion‑dollar P&L accountability .
- Finance acumen (multiple CFO roles), disciplined capital allocation, and extensive M&A execution experience .
- Project delivery excellence and commercial growth orientation, spanning Middle East, Americas, and global mandates .
- Education: BA, Finance (minor in Economics), Washington State University (1986) .
Equity Ownership
- Director stock ownership guideline: minimum 3.0x annual Board retainer; five‑year grace period to reach compliance. As of December 31, 2024, all non‑employee directors/executives were in compliance or within grace period .
- Insider trading policy: strict prohibitions on hedging/pledging, short‑selling, and derivative transactions in company stock for directors/officers/employees .
- Beneficial ownership for Ledford has not yet been disclosed; initial pro‑rated equity grant expected upon start of service .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Ledford adds current‑operator depth in specialty contracting, with CFO/COO credentials that should strengthen Audit and strategy oversight; independence affirmed and no 404‑reportable related‑party interests at appointment .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay mix (cash retainer + time‑based stock) and ownership guidelines (3x retainer) support skin‑in‑the‑game; anti‑hedging/pledging policy enhances alignment .
- Signals: 2024 say‑on‑pay support of 97.4% indicates strong shareholder endorsement of compensation governance; committee independence and majority‑voting policy further bolster investor confidence .
- Monitoring points (not red flags): Given Ledford’s leadership in Prime Electric/Trademark Concrete, continue monitoring for any Orion transactions with those entities; the company’s related‑party review process and his independence determination mitigate conflict risk at present .