Caviar Caveats: Locals concerned about bowfin numbers
December 19, 2012
Tolls a topic for debate at DOTD
December 19, 2012Gulf Island Fabrication announced this week that CEO and chairman of the board Kerry J. Chauvin would resign at the end of 2012 because of health-related complications.
The company issued a press release Thursday announcing Chauvin’s resignation and Kirk J. Meche’s appointment as the new CEO and president.
Upon resignation, the company said Chauvin is expected to agree to serve as a consultant to the Gulf Island Fabrication’s Board of Directors.
John P. Laborde, a member of the company’s board of directors since 1997, will now take over Chauvin’s role as chairman.
“Due to my health, it is in my best interest, as well as the best interests of the company, that I step down as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at this time,” Chauvin said in a news release issued by the company. “I have worked closely with Kirk for a number of years and I believe his management and operational experience with the company make him the ideal successor to lead the company going forward.”
Chauvin’s resignation marks the end of more than two decades with Gulf Island Fabrication, a Houma-based leader in fabrication of offshore drilling and production platforms.
Under Chauvin’s watch, the company experienced a lot of growth, pushing to become the 2,300-employee, publicly-traded enterprise it currently is.
Laborde said he thanks Chauvin for his service, adding that he left the company in good standing.
“On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Kerry for over 25 years of service to Gulf Island,” he said. “The company experienced a number of milestones under Kerry’s leadership, including the consummation of its initial public offering in 1997, its entry into the major deepwater fabrication business with the acquisition of Gulf Marine Fabricators in 2006 and also its expansion of marine fabrication services in 2008, among others.”
Meche will take over as the company’s new CEO on Jan. 1, 2013.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Meche was the company’s president and Chief Operating Officer.
