Andy Dupuy rose through the ranks of Baton Rouge industry with discipline and work ethic.
As Business Report details in its latest Executive Spotlight feature, Dupuy, 60, started at the bottom as a carpenter’s helper at Enjay Plastics, now ExxonMobil, and climbed to the top as president and CEO of Brown & Root. He’s now charged with resurrecting the name of one of the most notable companies in the industrial world and is focused on expansion and making sure Brown & Root remains the “gold standard” in the industry.
“Brown & Root was a major player in this region for many years, and the name gets a positive reaction from almost everyone,” he says.
Dupuy says it is the perfect time for Brown & Root to pursue opportunities and invest in companies struggling to make it through the oil downturn. His goal: “Outlive the blip in the economy and come out stronger.”
Dupuy says he was drawn to Brown & Root because of the company’s name along with the opportunity to expand the business.
“Brown & Root has had a reputation for hard work and innovation from the very beginning. (It’s) been known as the ‘gold standard’ in the industry for decades,” he says.
The biggest challenge, Dupuy says, is winning new business in a competitive market. Dupuy didn’t provide many details about how Brown & Root intends to compete with some of the region’s heaviest hitters like Turner Industries and Performance Contractors. However, he says there’s plenty of work to go around.
“We are a good bit more diversified and able to offer a wider range of services to our clients—that is the differentiator,” he says.
Looking ahead, Dupuy says he expects Brown & Root to be a bigger company.
“With some hard work and dedication, (we can become) one of the largest and most respected companies in the industry,” he says.
Read the full Executive Spotlight Q&A. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:
How have you seen your industry change throughout your career?
I am always amazed at how quickly things can change. When the economy and user consumption takes a turn, industrial development follows quickly. It seems like the ramp-ups and ramp-downs are equally as challenging.
