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Rudi Blankestijn

Vice President, Major ProjectsHouston

Rudi Blankestijn

Vice President, Major ProjectsHouston

An expert on capital-project delivery in oil and gas, chemicals, renewable power, and biofuels

With more than 28 years of experience delivering large, complex capital projects, Rudi’s work at McKinsey focuses on the oil and gas, chemicals, infrastructure, and mining sectors.

He has a proven track record in executive roles for project owners and for engineering, procurement, and construction companies, fulfilling multibillion-dollar energy and chemicals projects. Having directed multidisciplinary teams, Rudi specializes in implementing life-cycle improvements and organizational changes to capital projects, resulting in more consistent and predictable project execution outcomes.

Other areas of expertise include project and risk management, contract strategy, negotiations, and construction and project controls.

Examples of his recent client work include the following:

  • improving productivity for a $6 billion chemical complex
  • Leading a major project team for six months as it concluded front-end-loading (FEL-3) and moved toward final investment decision
  • leading the project-management consultancy effort for a $2.5 billion refinery expansion program, including oversight of engineering and construction
  • delivering two of the largest photovoltaic plants in the United States on schedule and under budget

Prior to joining McKinsey, Rudi was the director of capital-projects operations at a multinational chemical company, where he oversaw a global capital-projects portfolio of over $1 billion in annual spend. He also spent 25 years at a multinational engineering and construction firm, where he last served as an executive in project management.

Past experience

LyondellBasell
Director, global capital-projects operations

Fluor Corporation
Executive, project director

Education

Thunderbird School of Global Management
MBA, international finance

Hogeschool Utrecht
BSc, chemical engineering