Robert Ward is president & CEO of Skanska USA Commercial Development, which invests in and develops highly sustainable office and multi-family properties in select markets in the U.S.
Robert is focused on growing Skanska’s office and multi-family development operations in its existing markets in Boston, Houston, Seattle, and Washington D.C.; improving operational effectiveness and efficiency within the group; and evaluating opportunities to expand into new U.S. markets.
He has more than 20 years of experience in both the real estate development and construction industries most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Skanska USA Commercial Development. As COO, Robert drove several key elements of the company’s development operations including evaluating all project investments, refining national leasing and customer strategy, exploring new market opportunities and managing the group’s professional service functions.
Earlier in his Skanska tenure, Robert served as both the Executive Vice President (EVP) of development operations in Washington, D.C. and the interim EVP of development operations in Houston. In D.C., he oversaw the acquisition of more than 1.5 million square feet of office and multi-family development rights, as well as the delivery of two speculative office projects. In Houston, he also helped secure Bank of America as anchor tenant for Skanska’s Capitol Tower project, kicking of the 754,000 square-foot office tower in a prime downtown Houston location. In 2009, Robert helped launch the company’s commercial development business in the U.S., and was instrumental in the completion of the company’s first self-financed office development, 733 10th, which Skanska completed in 2011.
Robert is a member of the Board of Directors of Skanska Commercial Development Europe; the Board of Trustees of the Federal City Council; the Washington, D.C. Developer Roundtable; and the Board of Directors of the First Tee of Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and serves on the Virginia Tech Program on Real Estate Advisory Board