Bechtel has appointed Martina Strong, the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as the regional president for Central Europe and the Middle East. Strong brings nearly 30 years of experience in foreign service to the engineering and construction firm.
“Martina’s combination of diplomatic skill and strategic leadership will be vital in advancing Bechtel’s priorities across Central Europe and the Middle East,” said Justin Siberell, president of regions and government affairs at Bechtel.
Strong is expected to focus on fostering collaboration, strengthening relationships with government stakeholders, advancing Bechtel’s ongoing projects and guiding efforts to secure additional ventures in the Central Europe and Middle East region.
According to her biography from AmCham Abu Dhabi, Strong served as chargé d’affaires in Saudi Arabia and as deputy chief of mission in Bulgaria. She has held multiple positions in Iraq, including political minister counselor in Baghdad and political adviser to U.S. Army forces in Basra.
Earlier in her career, she was stationed in Poland, the Czech Republic, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and France. Additionally, she directed the National Security Council at the White House for two years, leading the U.S. government’s coordination for the 2004 G-8 Summit and other multilateral forums.
Bechtel is actively engaged in the region. In Central Europe, the company is leading the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant in partnership with Westinghouse. The project recently appointed a new project director to oversee the development of the three-reactor build at Lubiatowo-Kopalino.
In the Gulf region, Bechtel plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure expansion. The company is working on building three new terminals for Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport, supporting the kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification agenda.