President and Chief Operating Officer
Westinghouse Electric Company
Ric Pérez’ professional career with Westinghouse includes over 30 years of experience with all facets of commercial nuclear energy production. On April 1, 2012, he was named president and COO of Westinghouse Electric Company and serves as part of the Westinghouse Executive Office.
Prior to this appointment, from 2010 to 2012, Mr. Pérez served as president, Westinghouse Operations, where he was responsible for the operational leadership of the Westinghouse four global product lines--Nuclear Automation, Nuclear Fuel, Nuclear Power Plants and Nuclear Services--delivering world-leading technology, quality offerings and talented resources in cooperation with regional leaders directly serving Westinghouse customers.
Mr. Pérez led the global Nuclear Power Plants product line from 2009 to 2010. His oversight included more than 2000 personnel located globally and focused on the supply of new commercial nuclear electricity generating plants, as well as the management of projects totaling more than $5 billion (USD), manufacturing operations, construction/erection support, direct plant engineering design and global procurement of equipment and services. During this period Mr. Pérez was the Westinghouse Senior Officer for U.S. Licensing of the AP1000 and launching the company’s 1st new plant projects in China.
From 2008 to 2009, prior to his leadership role in Nuclear Power Plants, Mr. Pérez led a special assignment, overseeing Westinghouse’s major growth initiative to prepare the company for the global resurgence of commercial nuclear electricity generation.
Mr. Pérez served from 2001 to 2008 in leadership positions within the Westinghouse Nuclear Services product line in support the global fleet of operating reactors. For the last three years, he served as senior vice president, Nuclear Services, and prior to that, he led the Nuclear Services 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.
Prior to his work in Nuclear Services, Mr. Pérez led Westinghouse global nuclear marketing and commercial strategy, and performed key business roles in Western and Eastern Europe, 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. Additionally, he directed all engineering operations for Westinghouse in Europe during his time in Brussels, Belgium.
Before his European assignments, Mr. Pérez spent more than a decade supporting nuclear operating plants in the U.S. and has held positions of increasing responsibility within Westinghouse Nuclear Services, including extensive experience in component service and maintenance and a three-year assignment as the Westinghouse site services manager at Southern California Edison's San Onofre nuclear generating station.
Mr. Pérez holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Florida and a master's degree in energy resources from the University of Pittsburgh. He serves on the parents’ boards of both Duke and Vanderbilt Universities, in addition to serving on the University of Florida’s Nuclear & Engineering program advisory board. He is native Spanish speaker and is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the American Society for Non-Destructive Testing, the American Nuclear Society and the Spanish Nuclear Society.
