President
Operations
As president, Westinghouse Operations, Ricardo Pérez (Ric) is responsible for the operational leadership of the Westinghouse four global product areas: Nuclear Automation, Nuclear Fuel, Nuclear Power Plants and Nuclear Services (formerly referred to as Business Units). These four product areas represent the bulk of the company’s Facilities, Human Resources and Technology. The mission of the Operations team is to deliver world-leading technology, quality offerings and talented resources to the regional leaders who are directly serving our customers.
Prior to this position, Mr. Pérez led the global nuclear power plants unit for Westinghouse Electric Company. These operations include over 2000 personnel located throughout the world and were focused on the supply of new commercial nuclear electricity generating plants. These operations include management of >$5 Billion (USD) projects, manufacturing operations, construction/erection support, direct plant engineering design and global procurement of equipment and services.
His professional career with Westinghouse includes over 29 years of experience with all facets of commercial nuclear energy production. Included in these experiences are leadership assignments in Europe, living in Belgium and the United Kingdom, and extensive business dealing with Westinghouse’s clients in Asia and South America. He assumed his current role in 2009 after leading Westinghouse’s major growth initiative to prepare the company for the global resurgence of commercial nuclear electricity generation and ten times growth in ten years.
Prior to his leadership role in New Plants, Ric served for seven years in Westinghouse Nuclear Services unit in support the global fleet of operating reactors, including the final three years as Senior Vice President. He also led the unit’s field services operations, where he was responsible for all maintenance, inspection and repair activities for Westinghouse global nuclear fleet. These activities included leadership of over 4000 multinational personnel resources, logistics and deployment for the execution of high technology and hazardous environment tasks at commercial nuclear power plant sites. He has a broad business background and also led Westinghouse’s global nuclear marketing and commercial strategy in the late 1990’s. In the early 1990’s, Ric performed key business roles in Western and Eastern Europe. His European duties included establishing the Westinghouse growth strategies in Western Europe Technology Licensing, initial entry strategy for Eastern Europe and serving on the boards of directors of two joint ventures. He also directed all engineering operations for Westinghouse in Europe during his time in Brussels, Belgium.
Before his European assignments, he spent more than a decade supporting nuclear operating plants in the U.S. Ric held positions of increasing responsibility in Westinghouse Nuclear Services businesses, including extensive experience in component service and maintenance. These assignments included analytical and hands-on field experience, highlighted by a three-year assignment as the Westinghouse site services manager at Southern California Edison's San Onofre nuclear generating stations.
Mr. Pérez holds a B.S. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Florida and a M.S. in Energy Resources from the University of Pittsburgh. He serves on the parent’s boards of both Duke and Vanderbilt Universities, in addition to being on the University of Florida’s Nuclear & Radiological Engineering Department advisory board. He is native Spanish speaker and is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, American Society for Non-Destructive Testing, American Nuclear Society and the Spanish Nuclear Society.
