Bravo Group, a New York City-based full-service construction management firm, has hired former AECOM executive Jay Badame as its new chief operating officer, according to a Wednesday announcement.
In his new role, Badame will aim to grow the firm's public- and private-sector project portfolio, according to the announcement. In particular, Badame will focus on construction management and new design-build opportunities.
Badame brings nearly 50 years of construction industry experience to Bravo’s business, per the firm. In 2018, Construction Dive named Badame Executive of the Year for his work at the firm, including his role in rebuilding the World Trade Center complex after 9/11. Tishman Construction named him president in 1985, before the firm was acquired by AECOM in 2010.
But Badame left AECOM in 2023, three months after being named executive advisor to Bob Hart, who assumed Badame’s previous role at the firm. In 2024, Badame sued AECOM for alleged age discrimination and retaliation after he voiced concerns about alleged profit inflation, according to the lawsuit. The case was sent to arbitration in March 2025.
At Bravo, Badame will report directly to Ehab Shehata, Bravo’s president and CEO, and oversee a team of nearly 70 people. He was also appointed to the company’s board of advisors.
"I have had the privilege of working with Jay for decades and can confidently say there is no one better suited to help BRAVO usher in our next chapter of growth," Shehata said in the announcement. "He brings not only an unmatched level of expertise and experience to the role, but also deep integrity – something that is critically important to our industry.”
Bravo Group is a consortium of several firms: Velocity Architecture & Engineering Group, D.P.C. and Bradford Construction. It offers architecture, engineering and construction services for its clients, per the announcement.
“BRAVO has built an upstanding reputation within the AEC industry, with tremendous potential to take the business even further,” Badame said in the announcement. “I look forward to working closely alongside Ehab and the entire leadership team, as well as our outstanding clients and partners, to elevate this company to the next level.”
