R. Andrew Clyde: Leading A Giant Spin-Off

R. Andrew Clyde was born in Chicago, Illinois. His grandfather, Robert Aycock worked in the fuel industry selling fuel for PanAm Southern throughout south Arkansas and northern Louisiana. His grandfather later retired and established his own commercial fuel business serving small customers in the region.

Clyde worked for and traveled with his grandfather during summers and winter breaks in college. He was able to experience real world education observing how his grandfather dealt with customers on a personal level. This experience exposed Clyde to the fuel industry where he would have a very successful career.

He earned a BBA in Accounting with a minor in Geology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Clyde went to work for Arthur Anderson CPAs. He entered into the energy sector while working with a turnaround entrepreneur and consulting giant Booz and Co. The latter he worked for 20 years. While working at Booz he found time to obtain an MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Chicago graduating with Distinction.

Clyde later led Booz’s North America energy, chemicals and utilities practice, which provide services to major oil and gas companies, large independent firms and small box retail companies. His job led to travels in 30 countries all over the world and introduced him to Murphy Oil.

Clyde has provide recommendation and assisted with implementation of operational improvements to the business of Murphy Oil and capital allocation for development projects to grow the network. He led the development of the business strategy for the US retail company to move forward as a separate entity.  Murphy Oil announced in December of 2012 that it would spin-off it downstream operations, mainly its retail centers and become a pure play oil and gas and production company.

Having been deeply involved with the separation process it wasn’t a surprise when Clyde was appointed to head the new entity, Murphy USA. This new company is huge by any measure. It has around 1,179 retail outlets in 23 states (as of June 30, 2013) with revenues of $19.655 billion in 2012. Murphy USA performs 1.6 million transactions daily and has around 7,662 employees.