Westinghouse Electric Co. lost CEO Jim Ferland just as he was taking over the top job of its U.S. reactor-building division because he was taking over the top post at Babcock & Wilcox, the power-plant builder and defense contractor.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Bloomberg News reported the reason for Ferland's exit late last week. B&W, which is based in Charlotte, N.C., announced his hiring a few days after Ferland left Westinghouse, which is based in Cranberry, Pa.
Ferland is taking over at B&W from Brandon C. Bethards, 64, who is leaving the posts on April 19 and who will retire May 8.
At Westinghouse, Ferland was to take over April 1. A spokesman said later that it was unclear if he ever actually started the job before resigning.
