Jay Badame, a well-known figure in the construction and real estate industries, has taken on a new position as Chief Operating Officer at the architecture, engineering, and construction management firm Bravo Group. This move comes three years after his departure as President of AECOM Tishman.
Badame, who was instrumental in the rebuilding of the World Trade Center campus, will now lead Bravo Group's public and private sector projects. Before his departure from AECOM Tishman, he was involved in significant undertakings such as the new Terminals 1 and 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as SL Green Realty's One Vanderbilt. While working on the One Vanderbilt project, he developed a close relationship with Ehab Shehata, President and CEO of Bravo Group.
Badame commented on his plans to strengthen Bravo Group's market position in architecture and engineering: “With the relationships I’ve built over the last 30 or 40 years, I’m starting to arrange meetings with Ehab and private sector clients to explore how Bravo can grow its market share in architecture and engineering.” He sees a market gap for smaller firms, particularly for smaller projects that could be handled better independently.
The Bravo Group comprises two subsidiaries, Velocity Architecture and Engineering Group and Bradford Construction. Together, these companies employ around 150 people, a number Badame plans to expand. Their current focus is on public sector projects, with clients such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York City School Construction Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Badame took up his new role on 16 August and is responsible for 70 employees. He has also joined Bravo Group's advisory board, which includes former New York Governor David Paterson. Ehab Shehata emphasised Badame's expertise and integrity as crucial factors for the company's next phase of growth. Shehata said he had the privilege of working with Jay for decades and could confidently say that no one was better suited to lead Bravo into its next chapter of growth. He brings not only an unmatched level of expertise and experience to this role, but also a deep integrity – something that is essential for the industry.
During his 40-year tenure at AECOM Tishman, Badame oversaw over 400 projects nationwide as President of the Construction Management division. His dismissal in 2023 led to a lawsuit for wrongful termination, in which he alleged age discrimination and his criticism of alleged overstatements of AECOM Tishman's profits in quarterly reports. The legal proceedings are still pending.
For the future, Badame hopes to secure contracts with the Port Authority to manage projects for the remaining redevelopment of JFK Airport, as well as bidding on contracts with Related for the development of the western portion of Hudson Yards. In the three years since leaving AECOM Tishman, Badame also worked as an expert witness in construction litigation and provided independent consulting services.
