OHL North America has announced that Thomas Iovino, chief executive officer of OHL NA and CEO and founder of Judlau Contracting, will retire from the companies. Ashok Patel, who was serving as chief operating officer (COO), will take over as the CEO of OHL NA. Tom will continue to manage his five other construction companies, including Welkin Mechanical, TC Electric, J-Track, J-Track Central, and EIG (Environmental Infrastructure Group).
Tom’s legacy started in 1981 when he founded Judlau Contracting, naming the company after his wife Judy and daughter Lauren, as a water and sewer company in the basement of a home on Long Island. Under Tom’s leadership, the dedicated team of engineers and construction professionals at Judlau Contracting, now an OHL North America company, grew to become one of the nation’s leading civil construction companies with more than $5 billion in projects completed. Judlau, headquartered in Queens, NY, has completed more than $3.5 billion in projects for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), including the Second Avenue Subway and several Hurricane Sandy rehabilitation projects.
“After more than 35 years, I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such dedicated and hard working men and women who believed in me and never let me down. They are the reason for the success of the company and I am truly thankful,” said Tom Iovino. “Under Ashok’s leadership, I am confident that OHL NA will continue to have tremendous success completing major infrastructure projects in North America, and I couldn’t think of a stronger, more decisive leader for the company.”
In 2015, Tom became CEO of OHL NA, responsible for the growth and development of OHL Construction’s activities in the United States and Canada. Shortly thereafter in 2016 global construction giant OHL Group completed the acquisition of Judlau. In this role, Tom led the company’s organic growth in the region and helped secure OHL’s first billion dollar project in North America, the $1.2 billion joint venture I-405 Improvement project in California. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur, Tom plays a leadership role in the construction industry. He is a member of the Moles, World Presidents’ Organization, Chief Executives Organization and Construction Industry Roundtable, former Trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), former member of the President’s Council at Cooper Union, and past president of the General Contractors Association of New York. He is the recipient of the 2012 Moles Member Award for outstanding achievement in construction. Tom has been named as an honoree at the Columbus Citizens Foundation’s 2017 Columbus Day Celebration for his success and leadership in the construction industry as an Italian-American.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead OHL North America and carry on Tom’s remarkable legacy,” said Ashok Patel. “For more than three decades Tom has provided invaluable leadership and influence in the industry. His entrepreneurial spirit enabled him to grow and transform the company to unimaginable levels. I thank him for his extraordinary contributions over the years, and, with support of our employees, I look forward to continuing on the path of becoming North America’s preeminent construction company.”
Patel joined Judlau in 2009 as Vice President and was promoted to president soon after. He became COO of OHL North America in October 2015, responsible for the operations and activities of OHL Construction in the region and providing executive leadership to the company’s divisions, which include Judlau Contracting, Community Asphalt, OHL USA, OHL Canada, Arellano Construction and OHL Building. He was appointed CEO in July 2017. Ashok still serves as President of Judlau Contracting Inc. Prior to joining OHL, Ashok spent more than 23 years at the MTA New York City Transit and MTA Capital Construction, managing critical infrastructure projects and security for the agency.
In retirement Iovino looks forward to spending more time with his family and continuing his philanthropic work, including managing The Iovino Family Foundation (iF), which he founded in 2002 to create opportunities for disadvantaged communities around the world.
