David J. Lesar
David John Lesar | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 30, 1953 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | CEO of Halliburton (2000–2017), Chairman of Halliburton (until 2018), CEO of KBR, President and CEO of CenterPoint Energy, Chairman and CEO of Superior Energy Services |
David John Lesar (born May 30, 1953) is an American executive and former chairman of Halliburton Energy Services. He led Halliburton as CEO for 17 years, spanning from 2000 until 2017. A qualified Certified Public Accountant, Lesar dedicated 16 years at Arthur Andersen, overseeing their Halliburton portfolio before joining Halliburton in 1995 as vice president. On July 24, 2019, he was appointed interim CEO of HCSC. Subsequently, he assumed the roles of President and CEO at CenterPoint Energy on June 30, 2020. Later, on August 15, 2024, he was named Chairman and CEO of Superior Energy Services, effective August 19, 2024.
Education
Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Lesar earned a Bachelor of Science degree along with an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978.
Career
Lesar initiated his professional journey as a Certified Public Accountant at Arthur Andersen, where he spent sixteen years. He transitioned to Halliburton in 1995 and within a year took on the role of CEO at KBR while also acting as Halliburton's CFO. By 1997, he advanced to President and COO of Halliburton and was elevated to CEO in 2000. After stepping down from the CEO position in 2017, he served as Chairman until retiring on December 31, 2018; Jeff Miller succeeded him.
In addition to his executive roles, Lesar holds a board seat at Lyondell Chemical, contributes to the Upstream Committee of the American Petroleum Institute, and is a board member of the American Iranian Council, an organization dedicated to fostering improved relations between the United States and Iran.
Controversies
The film Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers claims that Lesar received over $42 million from Halliburton since the onset of the Iraq conflict, with that amount reportedly increasing over time. According to The Wall Street Journal, Lesar’s compensation in 2010 alone was approximately $14.9 million, not including stock options or deferred incentives—a figure representing a 20% increase compared to 2009 as detailed in securities filings.
In November 2014, during Halliburton's attempt to acquire Baker Hughes, Lesar faced criticism when Baker Hughes characterized Halliburton’s negotiation stance as rigid and improper.