Suffolk Hires Former GE Executive to Manage Business Development
Klee, who held several executive positions at GE, served as GE’s vice president of Boston development and operations and led the search for GE’s new headquarters and eventual move from Fairfield, CT to Boston.
BOSTON—National construction management firm Suffolk has hired former General Electric Co. executive Ann R. Klee as an EVP charged with leading the Boston-based firm’s national business development function and external and government affairs.
Klee, who held several executive positions at GE, served as GE’s vice president of Boston development and operations and led the search for GE’s new headquarters and eventual move from Fairfield, CT to Boston. At Suffolk she will also assist in expanding the company’s presence nationwide.
“Building relationships and trust with clients, communities and government is critical to long-term success in our industry, so I am thrilled Ann has joined the Suffolk family,” said John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. “Ann’s proven ability to build relationships, bring people together, solve complex challenges and push the boundaries of what is possible will help expand our presence in new markets, attract the best new talent and cement our reputation as an industry disruptor.”
In connection with GE’s move to Boston, Klee worked closely with government leaders, business leaders and community organizations, and oversaw the renovation of the Fort Port Channel buildings that would serve as GE’s new home. She also served as president of the GE Foundation. Klee also held the post of vice president of environment, health and safety at GE, leading a global organization dedicated to protecting employees, environmental compliance and sustainability and risk management.
“I’m excited to be joining Suffolk as it transforms the construction industry. It’s the perfect opportunity to use my private and public sector experience to work with a great leadership team to help achieve John Fish’s transformational vision of a wing-to-wing platform that meets our clients’ needs,” Klee says.
Klee enjoyed an extended career in Washington D.C. as an environmental lawyer at two law firms, as well as in several senior government positions on Capitol Hill and in the George W. Bush administration. She serves on the boards of Wabtec (NYSE:WAB), WGBH, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Boston Harbor Now and the Boston Green Ribbon Commission.
Suffolk is a national company with $4.5 billion in annual revenue, 2,400 employees and main offices in Boston, New York, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
Earlier this month, Suffolk unveiled a diversification strategy focused on leveraging its core competency of construction and expanding into additional service lines to create a fully-integrated platform that adds value for clients across the entire building lifecycle. As part of the strategy, Suffolk launched a contemporary brand positioning. Suffolk’s vertical service lines include real estate funding, design, technology investment and research and development.