Putting problem projects, corruption settlements and a bumpy association with Halliburton behind, KBR Inc. is trying to carve a new role as a global engineering and construction player, with a focus on energy and industrial megaprojects, said William P. Utt, chairman, president and CEO, in a wide-ranging interview with ENR editors. But he noted that the Houston-based firm is still committed to military and government support work even as it faces continuing questions related to work in Iraq.
It has been two years since KBR was spun off from its 44-year association with Halliburton, dating back to its contractor predecessor, Brown & Root. Utt is mopping up some legacies of that linkage while using a billion-dollar war chest to propel the firm into some new markets and capabilities.