Granite Construction names Powell chairman, replacing Watts, who will remain a director

Granite Construction names new chairman

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Granite Construction Inc., a contractor and producer of construction materials, said Tuesday its board has named a new chairman.

William H. Powell, 63, will become chairman effective Sept. 1. He succeeds David H. Watts, who will continue as a director on the board.

Powell served as chairman and chief executive officer of National Starch and Chemical Co. from 1999 until he retired in 2006. He is currently the chairman of the board of trustees of the State Theatre Performing Arts Center in New Brunswick, N.J., and serves as a director of Arch Chemical Company Inc. and PolyOne Inc.