The chief legal officer of an Irving, Texas-based engineering firm was named the company’s interim CEO last week following the resignation of its CEO, which is a sign, experts say, that he earned the trust of his board during his tenure as the company’s top lawyer.

Carlos Hernandez, who has served as Fluor Corp.’s chief legal officer and secretary since 2007, will serve as the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. It is not clear if Hernandez will be in the running for the permanent CEO position or if the company will only consider outside applicants.