MARLTON, N.J., Aug. 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International (NYSE:HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today several new hires and promotions.
Osama A. Abu Sitta, of Hill's Doha, Qatar office, has been promoted to Vice President in charge of Qatar operations for Hill's Project Management Group. Abu Sitta has almost 28 years of experience in construction management. Prior to joining Hill in 2003, he worked for 12 years at URS Corp. and its predecessor company O'Brien Kreitzberg, most recently as Deputy Program Manager. Abu Sitta holds a B.S. in civil engineering from California State University.
Nicholas Balagurchik, Jr., FACHE, of Hill's Washington DC office, has joined the company as Healthcare Practice Leader and will head up all Mid-Atlantic healthcare initiatives for Hill's Project Management Group. Balagurchik has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having held several senior positions within healthcare systems and organizations. His expertise includes operational analysis, fiscal improvement, strategic planning and business development with major healthcare systems across the country. Prior to joining Hill, Balagurchik was President of Ramello Corporation, a healthcare consulting firm. Prior to that, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Maryland Hospital Center. Balagurchik earned his B.S. in business administration from Monmouth University and his M.A. in health care administration from George Washington University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives.
Kevin O. Ellis, FRICS, of Hill's London, UK office, has joined the company as Vice President & Managing Director of Cost Management Services. Ellis has over 25 years of project, cost and contract management experience. Prior to joining Hill, he worked for more than 17 years for Currie & Brown, most recently as Director and International Operations Manager. Ellis earned his B.Sc. in building economics and measurement from Aston University and his M.B.A. from the University of Navarra's IESE Business School at Barcelona. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Pierre-Yves Paquette, of Hill's Athens, Greece office, has joined the company as Vice President of International Finance. Paquette has over 35 years of experience in construction, project and program management. He has a wide range of international finance and project controls experience dealing with major engineering and construction projects, from implementation to completion, both domestic and international. Prior to joining Hill, Paquette was Project Director for AECOM and Executive Program Director with Parsons Brinkerhoff.
Karim A. Yazbek, of Hill's Dubai, UAE office, has been promoted to Vice President in charge of the Middle East sales and marketing division for Hill's Project Management Group. Yazbek has over 15 years of construction management experience. Prior to joining Hill in 2007, he worked for several companies and held an executive tenure with the Lebanese Council for Development & Reconstruction. Yazbek earned a Baccalaureat degree from the French Government, a B.Eng. in civil engineering from McGill University and an M.S. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"I expect that these five executives will make major contributions to the continuing success of our domestic and international operations," said David L. Richter, Hill's President and Chief Operating Officer.
Hill International, with 2,600 employees in 90 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and construction claims and consulting services. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the 8th largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at .
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Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information contained in this press release, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any projections of earnings or other financial items; any statements concerning our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include: modifications and termination of client contracts; control and operational issues pertaining to business activities that we conduct on our own behalf or pursuant to joint ventures with other parties; difficulties we may incur in implementing our acquisition strategy; the need to retain and recruit key technical and management personnel; and unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are set forth in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
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CONTACT: Hill International, Inc. John P. Paolin, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications (856) 810-6210 johnpaolin@hillintl.com The Equity Group Inc. Devin Sullivan, Senior Vice President (212) 836-9608 dsullivan@equityny.com