The Advocate
Louisiana’s business development director will become the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s senior vice president of business development June 1, officials said Wednesday.
Kyle M. Zeringue has served at the Louisiana Department of Economic Development since 2010. As statewide director of business development, he focused on recruiting companies of all sizes to attract jobs and business investment and diversify the state’s economy.
“We are excited to have Kyle join the team to lead business development efforts for our nine-parish region,” said Adam Knapp, BRAC president and chief executive officer. “Kyle is uniquely suited to the role, having worked at a small, entrepreneurial business, a Fortune 500 company and at Louisiana Economic Development.
“His professional experience and leadership characteristics equip him for success as the leader of BRAC’s business development team,” Knapp added.
The senior vice president of business development directs job-creation strategies at BRAC. Those responsibilities include retention and expansion of existing businesses, international development, generating leads, site development and business intelligence.
Zeringue fills a slot that formerly was occupied by Iain Vasey, who served as BRAC’s executive director of business development for about five years. In March, Vasey became president and chief executive officer of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp. in Texas.
In his new role, Zeringue will collaborate with parish and state partners in advancing the region’s economic development strategy, Knapp said. In addition to his state development responsibilities, Zeringue has managed the economic development department’s business processes, conducted deal negotiations and managed recruitment projects.
Prior to his state government service, Zeringue served as an executive with The Shaw Group Inc., which was acquired in 2013 by Chicago Bridge and Iron, or CB&I.
During his tenure at Shaw, Zeringue held a number of leadership positions, including director of government services for the environmental and infrastructure division, director of marketing and communications and operations manager.
His most recent role at Shaw involved management of special projects. Before Shaw, Zeringue held a number of management positions at companies ranging in size and industry — including marketing and manufacturing, chemicals and logistics and engineering consulting.
Zeringue holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental management from LSU and a master’s in business administration from LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business.