David Lawler and Bruce Broussard: Careers, Roles and Leadership Lessons

Introduction

David Lawler and Bruce Broussard are two senior American executives who are often searched together, even though they work in very different industries. David Lawler is best known as an energy executive with a long career at BP and a later role in natural gas. Bruce Broussard is a veteran healthcare executive who led Humana for more than a decade and later became the interim chief executive of HP Inc.

This article looks at each leader’s background, major achievements, and public roles, and then explains what readers can learn from their stories. Several people share the name David Lawler, so this article focuses on David C. Lawler, the oil and gas leader. It was written without live web research, so titles and recent events may have changed, and readers should confirm current details on official company pages. No public record that I know of shows the two men working together, so their careers are covered separately.

David Lawler’s Early Years and Education

David Lawler is a Denver native who earned a petroleum engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 1990 and later completed an MBA at Tulane University. That mix of engineering training and business education has shaped his style, because it lets him speak with field crews and financial leaders alike. Many successful energy executives follow a similar path, starting on the technical side before moving into management.

He began his career as a production engineer at Conoco and as a drilling engineer at Burlington Resources. These early jobs taught him how wells are planned, drilled, and kept running safely. They also gave him a clear view of costs, which later became central to his work on capital efficiency and operating performance.

From PostRock and SandRidge to BP

Before joining a global major, Lawler led smaller companies. He served as chief executive and president of PostRock Energy and its predecessor companies, and he later became executive vice president and chief operating officer at SandRidge Energy. Running an independent oil and gas company means watching every dollar and every drilling schedule, so these roles tested his discipline.

In 2014 he moved from SandRidge to bpx, the onshore business of BP. The move placed him inside one of the largest energy companies in the world. It also set the stage for the most important chapter of his career, which centered on shale and unconventional production in the United States.

Leading bpx energy and BP America

At bpx energy, Lawler became chief executive and led the business for close to a decade. In 2018 he led BP’s roughly 10.5 billion dollar purchase of BHP’s onshore assets, which was the company’s largest acquisition in more than twenty years. Supporters say the deal turned the unit into a major onshore operator, and they credit his team with progress on process safety, emissions, flaring, production, and free cash flow.

He also served as Chairman and President of BP America from 2020 to 2023. In that role he acted as the company’s chief representative in the United States, speaking for its large workforce and its energy policy positions. The job required him to balance business goals with public concerns about climate, safety, and fuel supply.

David Lawler at Kimmeridge Texas Gas

In 2024, Lawler became Chief Executive Officer of Kimmeridge Texas Gas and a director of Commonwealth LNG, bringing more than thirty years of energy experience to the role. The company works in natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a segment that has drawn attention as countries look for dependable fuel and export options. His arrival signaled that the business wanted an experienced operator at the top.

He also stays active in the wider industry and in education. He has served as a director of the American Petroleum Institute and as a trustee of the Colorado School of Mines. Appearances at industry events, including business luncheons in Houston, have presented his career as an example of experienced oil and gas leadership.

Bruce Broussard’s Rise Through US Oncology and McKesson

Bruce Broussard built his early reputation in cancer care and healthcare finance. Before Humana, he spent about eleven years at US Oncology, where he served as chief financial officer, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board. After the company was sold to McKesson, he became president of the specialty pharmacy division, which added experience in drug distribution and large-scale operations.

This history taught him how money, patients, and providers connect inside the healthcare industry. It also prepared him for the complex world of health insurance, where policy changes and rising costs create constant pressure. Many people who follow his career say that mix of finance and operations became his signature strength.

Broussard’s Decade as Humana CEO

Broussard joined Humana in 2011, became CEO in 2013, and held the job until 2024, when Jim Rechtin succeeded him. Under his leadership, the Louisville, Kentucky company became a leading name in Medicare Advantage, the insurance option many older Americans choose. Business media regularly listed him among the best-known and highest-paid health insurance chiefs in the country.

He also took on industry and community roles. He chaired the board of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the main advocacy group for health insurers, and he served as chairman of the Humana Foundation before handing that post to longtime board member David Jones Jr. He has also served on the board of the Trust for the National Mall. His public talks, including podcast and summit conversations about leading through crisis, show how often he speaks about change management.

Bruce Broussard as HP Interim CEO

After leaving Humana, Broussard moved into technology through board service. He joined the board of HP Inc. in 2021, and in February 2026 HP announced that he would serve as interim chief executive officer after Enrique Lores departed to lead PayPal. Some observers were surprised because Broussard comes from healthcare, but HP’s chairman pointed to his operational and financial skill.

HP’s board formed a search committee to find a permanent CEO and signaled that its strategy, built around the “Future of Work” and AI-driven growth, would stay in place. The company serves customers in more than 180 countries and sells PCs, printers, and workplace technology. Because a permanent CEO may have been named since this article was written, readers should check HP’s official investor page for the newest update.

Leadership Lessons From Both Careers

The stories of David Lawler and Bruce Broussard offer useful lessons for students and working professionals. Lawler’s path shows the value of starting with hands-on technical work, then growing into management, which earns trust from engineers and investors. His large acquisition and his steady focus on safety and costs show that a big deal succeeds only when strong operations follow.

Broussard’s path shows how financial skill and industry knowledge can move across sectors. His years at US Oncology, Humana, and HP highlight the importance of corporate governance, board service, and calm communication during a leadership transition. Anyone researching either man should rely on company announcements, SEC filings, and reputable business news so that rumors do not shape the picture.

Conclusion

David Lawler grew from a field engineer into the head of BP’s onshore business and later led a natural gas company, while Bruce Broussard moved from healthcare finance to the top job at Humana and then to the interim helm at HP. Their industries are far apart, and no public evidence links them as partners, so readers should be careful with any claim that says otherwise.

Even so, both careers carry the same practical message. Deep knowledge of the business, careful deal-making, and strong governance can open doors across very different fields. For the latest facts about either leader, check official company pages and trusted news sources, since roles and titles can change quickly.

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