Corporate Governance

Kenneth Young

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Kenneth Young has served as Chief Executive Officer since November 2018 and Chairman since September 2020. He has more than 30 years of global operational, executive and director experience primarily within the energy, communications and finance industries.

Known for strategic acumen and effective transformational leadership, Mr. Young is driving a turnaround at B&W, improving the company’s profitability with solid increases in bookings, revenues and earnings, while reducing its senior debt by more than $200 million. He has led a number of acquisitions to expand the company’s products and services portfolio, and successfully launched B&W’s ClimateBright™ suite of technologies that are providing critical solutions to address global climate change goals, including B&W’s innovative BrightLoop™ hydrogen production and decarbonization technology for power and industrial uses.

Mr. Young previously served as President of B. Riley Financial, Inc., and Chief Executive Officer for B. Riley Principal Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of B. Riley Financial. Before joining B. Riley, he held executive leadership positions with Lightbridge Communications Corporation (LCC), which was the largest independent telecom construction and services company in the world and a recognized leader in providing network services. 

Prior to joining LCC, Mr. Young held C-level positions within several of Liberty Media’s subsidiaries. Prior to Liberty Media, Mr. Young held executive management positions within Cingular Wireless, SBC Wireless, Southwestern Bell Telephone and AT&T as part of his 16-year tenure within the now-combined AT&T Corporation.

Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Graceland University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Illinois.

Mr. Young has served on various boards for nine public companies.

Jimmy B. Morgan

Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

Jimmy Morgan is Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for the commercial and business development for B&W’s ClimateBright^™ and BrightLoop^™ suite of products as well as select biomass and waste-to-energy projects that leverage B&W’s new and emerging technologies.

He was named to his current role in January 2025 and has served in a number of senior and executive-level roles with B&W. He was named Chief Operating Officer in August 2020 and Executive Vice President in January 2022. From January 2019 until August 2020, Mr. Morgan was Senior Vice President, responsible for B&W’s global aftermarket, new-build and environmental products and services businesses. In March of 2020 he took on the role as Managing Director of the Company’s Babcock & Wilcox Vølund subsidiary and led B&W’s global licensing activities.

From December 2016 through January 2019, Mr. Morgan led the company’s renewable energy business, including Babcock & Wilcox Vølund and its operations and maintenance services businesses. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Operations, responsible for B&W’s Global Manufacturing, Global Supply Chain Management, Quality, Facility Services, and Environmental, Health, Safety & Security functions. He also was responsible for Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co., LLC.

Mr. Morgan has been in the global energy and construction industry for more than 35 years, and has considerable large project management, operations and construction experience. He joined B&W in February 2016 as Vice President and General Manager, Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co., LLC., serving in that position until he was named Vice President, Operations, in May 2016 and Senior Vice President of Operations in August 2016. Before joining B&W, he was Executive Vice President for Allied Technical Resources, Inc. Previous positions included serving as Chief Operating Officer with BHI Energy, Vice President of Installation and Modification Services with Westinghouse and as Managing Director for AREVA T&D. He began his career with Duke Energy as a Maintenance Engineer at one of the largest operating plants in the United States.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of South Carolina, and a Master’s of Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

Cameron Frymyer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Cameron Frymyer is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), a global leader in energy and environmental technologies and services for the power and industrial markets.

He has served in a number of senior-level Finance & Accounting and operational leadership roles during his 27 years with the company. From December 2023 through December 2024, Mr. Frymyer was Senior Vice President of Business Operations, responsible for the day to day operations of the company. Prior to that, he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility, including Business Segment Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance, for The Babcock & Wilcox Company and its former SPIG subsidiary. Additional positions included Vice President, Finance, for the company’s Power and Industrial segments, Finance Director for its Power segment, and Controller for its former Global Power Division.

He also served as Controller for B&W’s former Fossil Power Division (FPD), as Manager, Utility & Industrial Original Equipment Manufacturing Project Accounting, and as Manager of FPD Project Accounting. He joined the company in 1997.

Mr. Frymyer earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from The University of Akron and a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron School of Law. 

Brandy Johnson

Chief Technology Officer

Brandy Johnson is Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the development of B&W’s ClimateBright™ suite of decarbonization and hydrogen production technologies, including the deployment, scale-up and commercialization activities of its BrightLoop™ novel hydrogen generation technology. She was named to this position in 2022.

From April 2020 to May 2022, Johnson was Vice President of Global Engineering, responsible for overseeing all service and OEM proposal and project engineering activities throughout B&W’s global operations. Before that, from June 2018 until April 2020, Johnson was Vice President, Global Projects, responsible for executing and delivering new build and aftermarket projects for boiler and environmental equipment customers around the world.

Previous B&W positions included serving as Vice President, Global Project Development, Director, Supply Management, and Team Champion for the company’s Global Competitiveness Initiative. Johnson joined the company in 1995 as a Field Service Engineer.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Kent State University, and an Advanced Master Certificate in Integrated Supply Management from Michigan State University’s Executive Development Program.  She is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio, a Project Management Institute Certified Project Management Professional, and has completed several advanced leadership development programs, including the 2016 B&W Executive Development Program led by Korn Ferry.  She is also a contributing author of the 41st edition of Steam/its generation and use. Published by B&W, it is the world’s longest continually published engineering textbook of its kind.

Chris Riker

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Chris Riker was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2025.

Prior to that, Mr. Riker served as Senior Vice President of the company’s Thermal business segment since August 2022, responsible for B&W’s global thermal energy business that provides advanced technologies and equipment, as well as replacement parts and services, to keep thermal and industrial plants operating efficiently. In this role, he also managed the operations of various subsidiaries, including Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co., LLC; B&W Chanute, LLC; B&W de Monterrey; and the B&W Canada, B&W Diamond Power^® and B&W Allen-Sherman-Hoff^® operations.

Before that, he served as Senior Vice President, Global Parts & Service, leading the company’s worldwide parts and field engineering services business, which includes B&W, Diamond Power, Allen-Sherman-Hoff and Vølund™ systems branded products.

From March 2018 to January 2022, Mr. Riker was Vice President, Global Parts and Service. From June 2016 until March 2018, he was Vice President, Industrial Steam Generation, and led the company’s package boiler, pulp and paper, and petrochemical businesses. Before that, he led the Finance organization for B&W’s former Global Services segment and was responsible for all financial-related reporting, forecasting and analysis, and target setting for the company’s entire suite of aftermarket projects, parts and service businesses.

Previous positions included serving as Controller for B&W’s Diamond Power International, Inc., subsidiary, and as Manager of Internal Audit in B&W’s corporate headquarters. He joined the company in July 2010, after serving as a consultant with KPMG LLP.

Mr. Riker earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.

John J. Dziewisz

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

John Dziewisz is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), which is a global leader in energy and environmental technologies and services for the power and industrial markets. 

Dziewisz oversees the legal operations for all B&W business segments as well as Risk Management and Ethics and Compliance. He also serves as the company’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Dziewisz joined B&W in 1997 as an attorney. He subsequently held a number of more responsible positions including Managing Attorney, in which he led the legal activities of multiple B&W business operations, including service, construction and various international operations. From June 2013 until January 2019, Dziewisz served as Assistant General Counsel, Operations & Intellectual Property, responsible for the legal activities for all B&W operations related to proposal/project management, human resources, dispute resolution, intellectual property, business entity formation and mergers & acquisition activities in domestic and international markets. He was named Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer in January 2019. He was named Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in January 2020, and Executive Vice President in January 2022.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Dziewisz graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and earned his law degree from the University of Akron. He has also completed numerous leadership and management programs.

Gillianne Hetrick

Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations

Gillianne Hetrick is Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations, responsible for the Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Human Resources, Environmental Health, Safety & Security, Information Technology, Communications & Marketing, Facility Services, and Global Travel organizations.

She was named to her current role in January 2025 after serving as Vice President, Corporate Operations, since August 2022. Ms. Hetrick joined the company in 2019 and subsequently took on several new roles of increasing responsibility, including for the company’s corporate projects, mergers and acquisitions, real estate management, and IT functions.  

Prior to joining B&W, Hetrick held a number of positions at small to mid-sized publicly traded companies, where she led Human Resources, IT and Safety functions, and focused on business strategy, as well as process and operational efficiency improvements.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication from Northern Michigan University. She also is an active supporter of the business community and charitable organizations. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Akron Chamber, and is the Co-Founder and Director of The Beacon Principle, a non-profit organization that provides programs and support for those serving in the military and emergency services professions.

Sarah Serafin

Vice President, Corporate Development

Sarah Serafin is Vice President, Corporate Development, for Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), a leader in energy and environmental products and services for power and industrial markets worldwide. Serafin leads the company’s merger, acquisition and other corporate development responsibilities.

From 2021 to 2022, she served as Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, for B&W.  From 2019 until 2021, Serafin was with LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer, as a senior finance professional with responsibilities for planning, forecasting and business analytics including managing a forecast model of approximately $2 billion in annual gross profit.

Serafin originally joined B&W as Manager, Corporate Development, in 2016 and served in that role until 2019. Before that, she served roles of increasing responsibility within KPMG’s Deal Advisory practice, performing business and financial due diligence focusing primarily on buy-side and sell-side due diligence assistance for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

Serafin holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Dr. Homaira Akbari

Non-Executive Advisor

Dr. Homaira Akbari is CEO of AKnowledge Partners, a global advisory firm specializing in digital transformation and technology sectors of Cybersecurity, IoT, Energy Transition, and FinTech. She serves on the Board of Directors of Banco Santander and Landstar System and is a member of Telefónica Security Advisory Board. 

She has held senior management roles in Fortune 1000 companies including Microsoft, Thales, and Liberty Media subsidiary, Trueposition. Dr. Akbari has served as the President and CEO of SkyBitz, Inc., a leading IoT company providing asset tracking and security solutions. Under her leadership, the company had record performance.  She successfully sold SkyBitz to Telular Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLS).

She holds a Ph.D. with honors in particle physics from Tufts University and an MBA with distinction from Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. She is the author of more than 50 scientific articles in international journals, has two patents in IoT, and is a frequent speaker in industry conferences. She is a cybersecurity faculty member at the DCRO Risk Governance Institute and a guest lecturer at ecoDa.eu. She has published numerous governance and technology Opinion Editorials and Podcasts, and most recently co-authored the book: The Cyber Savvy Boardroom.