Bill Allen (corporate CEO)

Billy Allen (04/06/37) is the former CEO of the Alaska oilfield services company VECO Corporation. VECO Corporation was an Alaska-based oil pipeline service and construction company originally founded by Wayne Veltri (VECO is short for Veltri Co). Bill Allen was born in New Mexico and at the age of 16 left for the oil fields of Alaska to become a welder to help support his family. Founded in 1968 by Allen, VECO began as a one truck welding and repair operation that grew to become a major player in the Alaskan and worldwide oil industries' support services business. VECO also was a worldwide player in the oil industry, having divisions in many major oil markets. VECO had a major impact on the economy of Alaska and employed over 5,000 people worldwide.

Exxon Valdez oil spill

On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling eleven million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the second largest in United States history.(second to the BP Gulf oil spill)

Under Allen's guidance, VECO (along with its unionized subsidiary, NORCON) was responsible for large parts of the spill's cleanup, hiring 2,500 workers to clean up the environmental disaster. VECO's quick actions are credited with limiting the devastating environmental impact of the Exxon spill.

Following the spill and cleanup, Allen purchased the Anchorage Times from editor/publisher Robert Atwood. Allen operated the newspaper until shutting it down and selling many of its assets to its rival, the Anchorage Daily News, in 1992. Through an agreement described as "unique," Allen paid for space in the editorial section of the ADN for many years afterward to provide a half-page feature known as The Voice of the Times.

Alaska political investigation

On May 7, 2007 Allen, along with VECO's Vice President for Community & Government Affairs Rick Smith, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Anchorage in the Alaska political corruption probe to charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service.[1] The charges involved bribing Alaska lawmakers to vote in favor of an oil tax law favored by the VECO that was the subject of vigorous debate during the regular and two special sessions of the Alaska Legislature in 2006[2] Bill Allen's testimony, at the trial of his former friend, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, helped secure Stevens' conviction, in U.S. District Court on charges of felonious corruption.[3] Bill Allen was convicted and sentenced to 3 years in Prison and fined $750,000.00.[4] He was released from a halfway house in New Mexico on November 22, 2011.[5]

Later, it emerged that Allen might have perjured himself at trial. During a review of the case triggered by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, investigators for the United States Department of Justice discovered a previously undocumented interview between Allen and prosecutors. In this interview, Allen stated that the fair-market value of the repairs to Stevens' house was around $80,000—far less than the $250,000 he testified to at trial. Moreover, Allen said in the interview that he didn't recall talking to Bob Persons, a friend of Stevens, regarding the repair bill for Stevens' house. This directly contradicted Allen's testimony at trial, where he claimed Stevens had asked him to give Persons a note Stevens had sent asking for a bill for the repair work. At trial, Allen said Persons had told him the note shouldn't be taken seriously because "Ted's just covering his ass". The notes of this interview were never given to the defense, as required by U.S. criminal law. The discovery of this interview, was cited by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in his decision to move to dismiss Stevens' indictment before sentencing—effectively vacating his conviction. "I have determined that it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the indictment and not proceed with a new trial," said Holder.[3]

Allen's resignation from VECO

On May 11, 2007 the VECO Corporation announced that CEO Bill Allen and Vice President for Community & Government Affairs Rick Smith had resigned from the corporation. Allen was succeeded as chairman of the board by his daughter, Tammy Kerrigan. A new CEO had not been chosen. It was not clear if the position of Vice President for Community & Government Affairs would be refilled.[6][7]

Sale of VECO Corporation

In September 2007 VECO Corporation was sold to Colorado-based CH2M HILL corporation. Due to the cloud hanging over its head from the political investigation, it is estimated that VECO was forced to sell for far less than its market value. Though he had no legal obligation to do so, Allen negotiated that 5% of the proceeds from the sale of VECO be given to the employees for the years of service they had given the company.[8]

References

  1. ↑ D'Oro, Rachel. (2007-05-07). "Oil service execs plead guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers." Associated Press. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
  2. ↑ "KTUU.com - Alaskas News Source - Alaskas Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines". KTUU.com. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Alaska Daily News coverage". Alaska Dispatch. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bill Allen sentenced to 3 years in prison, fined $750,000 | Alaska Dispatch". Adn.com. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  5. ↑ Archived September 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "Energy: CH2M HILL". Veco.com. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  8. ↑ Archived November 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
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