JE Dunn Names Colby Cox as Chief Legal Officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — JE Dunn Construction has appointed company alumnus Colby Cox as its new chief legal officer. Cox returns to the commercial general contractor to succeed Tom Whittaker, who has announced plans to retire in 2027 following more than 30 years with the enterprise.

Under the planned leadership transition, Whittaker will remain with JE Dunn in a senior advisory role until his official retirement. The extended transition timeline is designed to ensure operational continuity and a structured handover of corporate legal matters and risk management functions.

Cox rejoins JE Dunn after serving in executive legal roles at Gray, a national design-build and construction services firm. During his previous tenure at JE Dunn, Cox handled various corporate legal affairs, compliance initiatives, and risk management strategies across the company's regional operations.

Whittaker first joined JE Dunn more than three decades ago, guiding the general contractor's legal strategy through periods of substantial national expansion. Over his tenure, he directed enterprise governance, contractual frameworks, and corporate policy initiatives for the company.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, JE Dunn operates as one of the largest domestic general building contractors in the United States, covering commercial, healthcare, industrial, and civic project sectors. The executive appointment reflects the firm's focus on long-term succession planning and executive governance.