ONEOK shuffles some of management deck at top
BY ROD WALTON World Staff Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
12/20/12 at 7:44 PM
ONEOK Inc. and ONEOK Partners LP shuffled some of their top management Thursday, including one executive who was promoted to his position only a year ago.
Pierce H. Norton II was moved from chief operating officer to executive vice president of commercial activities. Norton was named COO when the Tulsa-based natural gas companies unveiled their long-term succession plan December 2011.
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Robert F. Martinovich will become executive vice president for operations. The title of COO will not exist in ONEOK under what the companies called “a reorganization to further enhance their commercial and operating activities.”
Derek Reiners, currently chief accounting officer, will replace Martinovich as CFO and treasurer. Sheppard F. “Mike” Miers III, who is controller, will be promoted to chief accounting officer.
The changes take effect Jan. 1.
“Ultimately, these changes will improve our ability to compete more effectively by strengthening our competitive advantage,” John W. Gibson, CEO of both ONEOK companies, said.
ONEOK will also reorgnize its distribution companies — Oklahoma Natural Gas, Kansas Gas Service and Texas Gas Service — with separate leaders for the operating and commercial activities. ONEOK Inc. owns all three utilities and controlling interest in the partnership.
“These changes will allow our three natural gas utilities to deliver service to our customers more effectively and efficiently; continue to operate our assets safely, reliably and environmentally responsibly; and utilize common processes and technologies across all three states to reduce costs and drive commercial and operational consistency,” Gibson said.
The ONEOK companies made major upper-management shifts in December 2011.
