Executive Management Team

  • Andy Lane

    Andrew R. Lane

    President & CEO

    MRC Global since 2008

    Andrew R. Lane has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since September 2008. He has also served as a director of MRC Global Inc. since September 2008 and was the chairman of our Board of Directors from December 2009 to April 2016. From December 2004 to December 2007, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Halliburton Company, an international, oilfield services firm. Andy received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University in 1981 (cum laude). He also completed the Advanced Management Program (A.M.P.) at Harvard Business School in 2000.

  • Jim Braun

    James E. Braun

    Executive VP & CFO

    MRC Global since 2011

    James E. Braun has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2011. Prior to joining the company, Jim served as Chief Financial Officer of Newpark Resources, Inc., a position he was named to in 2006. Newpark provides drilling fluids and other products and services to the oil and gas exploration and production industry, both inside and outside of the US. Before joining Newpark, Jim was Chief Financial Officer of Baker Oil Tools, one of the largest divisions of Baker Hughes Incorporated, a leading provider of drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry. From 1998 to 2002, he was Vice President, Finance and Administration, of Baker Petrolite, the oilfield specialty chemical business division of Baker Hughes. Jim is a CPA and was formerly a partner with Deloitte & Touche. Jim received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Kelly-Youngblood

    Kelly Youngblood

    Executive VP

    MRC Global since 2019

    Kelly Youngblood is our Executive Vice President and will assume the role of Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on March 1, 2020 upon the retirement of James Braun. Kelly brings more than 30 years of extensive energy and finance expertise to MRC Global. Prior roles include CFO at BJ Services, the largest North American-focused pure-play pressure pumping services provider and Senior Vice President & CFO at Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. He has also held a variety of finance and accounting positions of increasing responsibility at Halliburton, including Vice President of Investor Relations, where he was awarded Institutional Investor magazine’s Best Investor Relations for the Oil Services and Equipment Sector twice. Kelly is a CPA and graduate of Cameron University.

  • Daniel Churay

    Daniel J. Churay

    Executive VP Corporate Affairs, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

    MRC Global since 2011

    Daniel J. Churay has served as our Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since 2011. In his current role, Dan manages the company’s human resources, legal, risk compliance, corporate services and external and government affairs functions. He also acts as Corporate Secretary to the company’s Board of Directors. He previously served as President and CEO of Rex Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of YRC Worldwide Inc., a Fortune 500 transportation and logistics company; and Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Baker Hughes Incorporated, a Fortune 500 company that provides products and services to the petroleum and continuous process industries. Dan began his career as an attorney at the law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright in Houston, Texas. Dan received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas and a juris doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was a member of the Law Review.

  • Grant-Bates

    Grant Bates

    Senior VP Canada, International & Operational Excellence

    MRC Global since 2000

    Grant Bates is our Senior Vice President of Operations, International and Canada and Operational Excellence. In this role, he is responsible for our international and Canadian operations in addition to the global quality, safety, health and environment (QHSE) and our transportation, warehouse operations, business processes and customer integration teams. Grant previously led our Canada Region and served as Regional Vice President of the Australasian Region. Grant joined MRC Global March 2012 through the acquisition of OneSteel Piping Systems. He has more than a decade of experience in manufacturing and distribution in a variety of management roles, including several years as a business analyst and consulting engineer. Grant holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Newcastle, a graduate degree in management from Deakin and an MBA from Deakin University.

  • John Bowhay

    John Bowhay

    Senior VP Supply Chain Management, Valve and Technical Product Sales

    MRC Global since 2002

    John Bowhay is our Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Valve and Technical Product Sales. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and Middle East Operations. Before that, John served as Vice President of European Operations since August 2013. Prior to this role, John served as Managing Director for our United Kingdom operations and prior to that role, he was Vice President of Sales in the UK for our heritage company, Transmark Fcx. He brings more than 34 years of industry experience and valve expertise to the MRC Global team. John attended the London Business School.

  • Robert Stein

    Robert W. Stein

    Senior VP Business Development

    MRC Global since 1984

    Robert Stein is our Senior Vice President of Business Development. He previously led our downstream and integrated supply teams. Prior to that, Robert led our US Southwestern Region Operations. He has been part of MRC Global since 1984 and has served in a variety of roles including regional and branch management, downstream business development, project services and integrated supply. Robert received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Sam Houston State University.

  • Karl Witt

    Karl Witt

    Senior VP - US Operations

    MRC Global since 1980

    Karl Witt is our Senior Vice President of US Operations. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles including seven years as Regional Vice President of the Eastern Region and seven years as Regional Vice President of the Midwest Subregion as well as warehouse manager, outside sales representative, branch manager and Vice President of Operations with Joliet Valves, which was acquired by McJunkin Red Man Corporation (a predecessor to the company) in 2001. Karl attended South Suburban College in Chicago.