People News: C.H. Robinson, STV
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Scott Anderson, incoming interim CEO, C.H. Robinson (left); Bob Biesterfeld, outgoing President and CEO, C.H. Robinson (center); James Murphy, Business Development Director for Construction Management Operations, Northeast, STV.
Bob Biesterfeld has stepped down as President and CEO and Member of the Board at C.H. Robinson, effective Dec. 31, 2022. Also, James Murphy has joined STV Inc. as Business Development Director for Construction Management Operations in the Northeast.
At C.H. Robinson, Scott Anderson has been appointed as interim CEO, following Biesterfeld’s departure. Since 2020, Anderson has served as Board Chair for C.H. Robinson, a multimodal transportation services and third-party logistics provider based in Eden Prairie, Minn. He joined the Board in January 2012. Most recently, Anderson was President and CEO of Patterson Companies from 2010 to 2017 and was elected as Chairman of Patterson’s Board in April 2013.
According to C.H. Robinson, the Board has begun a search for a new permanent CEO and has retained national executive search firm Russell Reynolds to assist. With Anderson’s appointment, Jodee Kozlak will become independent Chair of the C.H. Robinson Board. Kozlak, Founder and CEO of private consulting firm Kozlak Capital Partners, LLC, joined C.H. Robinson as a Director in 2013.
C.H. Robinson also reported making changes to the membership of the Audit Committee and Governance Committee so that both remain composed solely of independent Directors. Kermit Crawford has been appointed Chair of the Governance Committee; he became a C.H. Robinson Director in 2020 and served previously as President and Chief Operating Officer of Rite Aid Corporation from 2017 to 2019.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank Bob for his many important contributions over the past three years as CEO and his 24 years with C.H. Robinson,” Anderson said. “Since joining Robinson in 1999, Bob has played an important role in positioning C.H. Robinson for long-term success, most recently leading the company through a challenging period, which included COVID-19 and dealing with supply chain disruptions. We wish him all the best. I am honored to take on the role of Interim CEO and am committed to ensuring this will be a seamless transition for all C.H. Robinson stakeholders.”
“It has been a privilege to lead C.H. Robinson and this exceptional team,” Biesterfeld said. “I am proud of all that we have achieved together, and it has been a pleasure working with so many talented members of the team throughout the organization during my tenure as CEO. I am confident that C.H. Robinson’s industry-leading people and culture will continue to ensure that the company is well-positioned for the future.”
In related developments, C.H. Robinson recently named Norfolk Southern (NS) its 2022 Railroad of the Year.
At STV, James Murphy has been named Business Development Director for Construction Management Operations in the Northeast. He will be based in the New York office of STV, a professional firm covering the transportation infrastructure (including rail, mass transit, highways and bridges), water, and social infrastructure (such as healthcare, education and justice) sectors.
According to STV, Murphy will focus on growing the firm’s presence in the New York City metropolitan region and throughout the Northeast, and prioritizing public-sector markets, from project pursuit through delivery.
With more than 25 years of experience in client relations, public program management and business development, Murphy served previously as Vice President-PMCM (Program Management/Construction Management)-Public and Federal Government Market Sectors at Turner & Townsend Inc. in New York. He also worked for AECOM as Vice President, PMCM Business Line Lead, Northeast and New York City Metropolitan area.
“James brings a valuable perspective to business development as a former program construction manager, allowing him to have more in-depth conversations with clients to understand their needs and challenges,” said Luis Delgado, STV President of the Nationwide Construction Management Practice. “He understands public and private capital programs [and] client operations, and has a large network of contacts in the PMCM market. He’ll help STV build on our current relationships and successes to grow throughout the Northeast.”
