Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On May 25, 2021, Pierce H. Norton II, the President and Chief Executive Officer of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) (the “Company”) notified the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) of his plan to retire as CEO and as a director of the Board, in each case, effective as of June 27, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). Mr. Norton’s resignation does not result from any disagreement with the Board, including, but not limited to, any disagreement regarding the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. No changes have been made to Mr. Norton’s compensation, and the treatment of his compensation upon his retirement is consistent with prior Company disclosures regarding executive compensation. Mr. Norton has accepted the role as President and CEO of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) to be effective as of June 28, 2021.
The Company and the Board have an established CEO succession planning process which has been ongoing and a continuous part of board oversight. The Board will provide additional details regarding the future leadership structure when available.
In connection with his departure from the Company, Mr. Norton stated, “I am very appreciative to have held the CEO position at this great company. It has been an honor to serve our shareholders, employees, customers, and communities. The executive team has focused on engraining a culture that is built upon our core values and executing our mission, vision and strategies to create a competitive advantage and a sustainable future”.
In connection with Mr. Norton’s departure from the Company, John W. Gibson, the Chairman of the Board, stated: “Both the Company and its Board of Directors express their deepest gratitude to Pierce for his years of dedicated service, not only to the Company, but also to the best interests of our stakeholders and the communities that trust us to deliver safe and reliable natural gas services. I am confident that the value-based culture created in this company will continue to bring benefits to all stakeholders.”