Randy A. Foutch fits the bill as an entrepreneurial oilman. Born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology at the University of Texas and a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston.

His success as an oil and gas executive began with forming privately held companies. Foutch founded Lariat Petroleum, Inc. in 1996 and served as President until January 2001 when it was sold to Newfield Exploration, Inc. Foutch also founded Latigo Petroleum, Inc. and served as President and CEO until selling it to Pogo Producing Co., for 750 million dollars in 2006. Latigo co-won an Oklahoma Venture of the Year Award. He also founded Laredo Petroleum in 2006 and served as Chairman and CEO until 2019.

Among many other honors and appearances, Randy was inducted into the University of Tulsa’s 2010 Business Hall of Fame. He has been a guest commentator on CBS News and was an invited speaker at Harvard Business School’s 2010 Annual Energy Symposium. Randy was inducted into the 2008 Tulsa Historical Society Hall of Fame and received the American Association of Petroleum Geologists’ Public Service Award at its 1999 convention.