John R. Durand is a Partner and Board Member of Churchill Partners and a four-decade energy infrastructure executive with extensive experience in acquisitions, strategic growth, sustainability, governance, and large-scale infrastructure development.
Mr. Durand currently serves as Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Member of Magnificent Desolation, LLC, a private investment and real estate holding company focused on long-term asset stewardship and strategic acquisitions.
Previously, he served as Vice Chairman, President & Chief Sustainability Officer of XRI Holdings, a Morgan Stanley Energy Partners portfolio company and one of North America’s leading water infrastructure businesses. As a member of the Board of Directors and executive leadership team, he helped guide the company’s strategic vision and growth initiatives, including the transformational acquisition of Fountain Quail Water Management, a recognized leader in water treatment, recycling, and reuse.
Prior to XRI, Mr. Durand served as President & Chief Operating Officer of WaterBridge Resources, where he helped build one of the industry’s premier water midstream platforms through strategic acquisitions, infrastructure development, and innovative public-private partnerships. Earlier in his career, he served on the Executive Management Team of Pioneer Water Management, where he negotiated landmark long-term municipal water supply agreements with the Cities of Midland and Odessa that helped establish a sustainable framework for industrial water reuse in the Permian Basin.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Durand has led or participated in numerous acquisitions, divestitures, integrations, and strategic growth initiatives, including the $5.6 billion acquisition of PVR Partners by Regency Energy Partners (now Energy Transfer). Widely recognized as a pioneer in water infrastructure and sustainable resource management, he has served on numerous industry and governance boards and is regarded as a leading voice in the intersection of energy, infrastructure, sustainability, and long-term value creation.
Mr. Durand holds an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas and a BS in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Louisiana.
