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Austin Powder Appoints Lamar Duhon as President and CEO
Duhon brings over 25 years of global industrial leadership experience to guide the company's next chapter of growth.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:54pm
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A refined, minimalist representation of the leadership transition at Austin Powder, a global leader in industrial explosives.Cleveland TodayAustin Powder, a global leader in explosives and blasting solutions, has appointed Lamar Duhon as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 13, 2026. Duhon succeeds John D. Rathbun, who will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board, ensuring leadership continuity as the company enters its next phase of growth.
Why it matters
The selection of Duhon as CEO reflects a thoughtful transition for Austin Powder, which has nearly two centuries of industry leadership in blasting and industrial explosives. His appointment builds on the company's enduring commitment to safety, customer partnership, operational excellence, and a people-first culture, while positioning it for continued innovation and growth.
The details
Duhon brings more than 25 years of global experience leading large-scale industrial businesses and complex service organizations. Most recently, he served as President of the Flowserve Pumps Division at Flowserve Corporation, where he oversaw a global portfolio serving customers across critical infrastructure markets. He previously led Flowserve's Aftermarket Services and Solutions business. Earlier in his career, Duhon held senior leadership roles at Halliburton and Baker Hughes, managing international operations and driving performance across diverse end markets.
- Duhon's appointment as President and CEO will be effective on April 13, 2026.
- Rathbun has led the company as President since 2017 and as President and CEO since 2018.
The players
Lamar Duhon
The newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Austin Powder, bringing over 25 years of global industrial leadership experience.
John D. Rathbun
The outgoing President and CEO of Austin Powder, who will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board, ensuring leadership continuity as the company enters its next phase of growth.
Ben Gelinas
An Austin Powder Board Member who stated that the selection of Duhon as CEO reflects a thoughtful transition as Austin continues nearly two centuries of industry leadership in blasting and industrial explosives.
W. Jack Davis
An Austin Powder Board Member and shareholder who thanked Rathbun for his extraordinary stewardship and continued commitment to the company's employees, customers, and long-term success.
Austin Powder
A global leader in the manufacture, distribution, and application of industrial explosives for various industries, founded in 1833.
What they’re saying
“Today's announcement follows a comprehensive and deliberate process to identify the right leader to guide Austin through its next phase of growth and long-term value creation. Lamar is a proven operator and team builder with a clear ability to translate strategy into results. With the support of our experienced leadership team, he is well prepared to build on our momentum and lead Austin into its next chapter.”
— John D. Rathbun, Outgoing President and CEO, Austin Powder
“The selection of Lamar as CEO reflects a thoughtful transition as Austin continues nearly two centuries of industry leadership in blasting and industrial explosives. This builds on Austin's enduring commitment to safety, customer partnership, operational excellence, and a people-first culture. Lamar's leadership ensures continuity in our values while positioning the company for continued innovation and growth.”
— Ben Gelinas, Austin Powder Board Member
“We are especially pleased that John will assume the role of Chairman of the Board, a natural next chapter in a remarkable 40-year career that began at Austin Powder in 1986. Over decades of service and leadership, culminating in his tenure as CEO, John has strengthened our culture, deepened customer relationships, and reinforced Austin's legacy as a trusted industry leader. On behalf of the entire Board, we thank John for his extraordinary stewardship and continued commitment to the company's employees, customers, and long-term success and look forward to working with him on the Board of Directors.”
— W. Jack Davis, Austin Powder Board Member and Shareholder
What’s next
Duhon will officially assume the role of President and CEO on April 13, 2026, succeeding Rathbun, who will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board.
The takeaway
The appointment of Lamar Duhon as the new President and CEO of Austin Powder represents a thoughtful leadership transition that will build on the company's nearly two centuries of industry leadership, commitment to safety and operational excellence, and position it for continued innovation and growth in the global industrial explosives market.
