ONEOK Announces Board Transitions
Rhea-AI Summary
ONEOK (NYSE: OKE) announced that directors Gerald B. Smith and Pattye L. Moore will retire from the board at the end of their current terms on May 20, 2026, the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting date. Smith’s retirement follows the company’s mandatory director retirement age policy; Moore elected to retire.
Smith joined the board in 2020; Moore joined in 2002. Company leaders thanked both for their long service and guidance during the firm’s transformation into a large midstream infrastructure operator.
Positive
- Orderly board transition scheduled for May 20, 2026
- Pattye L. Moore brings 24 years of board service
- Board change follows existing governance policy for retirements
Negative
- Loss of two directors representing a combined 30 years of board tenure
- Departure of long‑tenured director could reduce institutional knowledge
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
OKE gained 1.13% with light relative volume while key midstream peers like MPLX, TRGP, KMI, TRP and EPD also showed positive price changes between 0.28% and 2.3%. Momentum scanner data, however, flagged only one peer (VG, up 1.09%) and classified this as not a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | Annual meeting setup | Neutral | -0.0% | Set virtual 2026 annual meeting date and record date for voting. |
| 2026-01-26 | Board additions | Positive | +0.3% | Added two independent directors with energy, finance and governance experience. |
| 2026-01-21 | Dividend increase | Positive | +3.6% | Raised quarterly dividend 4% to $1.07 per share, $4.28 annualized. |
| 2026-01-15 | AI research update | Positive | -3.3% | WiMi announced quantum hybrid neural network for image classification. |
| 2025-12-08 | Investor conference | Neutral | +0.0% | Participation in investor conference with live and replay webcast access. |
Recent ONEOK headlines (dividends, governance, meetings, conferences) have usually seen small price reactions, with one larger upside move on a dividend increase and one divergence on an unrelated AI news item.
Over the last several months, ONEOK’s news flow has focused on corporate actions and shareholder engagement. The company scheduled its 2026 annual meeting for May 20, 2026, after previously announcing new independent directors in late January. A key milestone was a 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.07 per share, which coincided with a stronger positive price reaction. Routine items like an investor conference in December 2025 produced minimal movement. Today’s board transition update fits into this governance-focused pattern around the upcoming annual meeting.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement outlines planned retirements of two long-serving directors at the May 20, 2026 annual meeting, fitting into ONEOK’s recent stream of governance and shareholder-related updates. The company entered the news with shares around $90.86, above the $76.50 200‑day moving average and between its $64.02 52-week low and $103.64 high. Investors following ONEOK may track how upcoming board refreshment complements its large 60,000-mile midstream footprint and recent dividend growth when evaluating longer-term positioning.
Key Terms
midstream technical
fractionation technical
natural gas liquids (NGLs) technical
S&P 500 financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Gerald B. Smith and Pattye L. Moore to Retire from ONEOK Board of Directors
TULSA, Okla., March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today announced that directors Gerald B. Smith and Pattye L. Moore will retire from the company’s board of directors at the end of their current terms on May 20, 2026, the date of the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Smith will retire in accordance with ONEOK’s mandatory director retirement age policy and Moore has elected to retire.
“Over the course of their many years of service, Gerald and Pattye have demonstrated a deep commitment to ONEOK and its long‑term success,” said Julie H. Edwards, chair of ONEOK’s board of directors. “During their tenure, the company has undergone significant transformation and we are very grateful for the expertise, judgment and many meaningful contributions they have brought to ONEOK through that period.”
Smith has served on ONEOK’s board since 2020. He was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Smith, Graham & Company Investment Advisors.
Moore has served on ONEOK’s board since 2002. She is the former chairman of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and former president of Sonic Corp.
“On behalf of ONEOK’s management team and employees, I want to thank Gerald and Pattye for their years of service and the guidance they’ve provided,” said Pierce H. Norton II, ONEOK president and CEO. “Their counsel and oversight have helped shape the decisions that strengthened ONEOK into the premier midstream infrastructure company it is today and we’re grateful for the lasting impact they’ve made.”
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At ONEOK (NYSE: OKE), we deliver energy products and services vital to an advancing world. We are a leading midstream operator that provides gathering, processing, fractionation, transportation, storage and marine export services. Through our approximately 60,000-mile pipeline network, we transport the natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), refined products and crude oil that help meet domestic and international energy demand, contribute to energy security and provide safe, reliable and responsible energy solutions needed today and into the future. As one of the largest integrated energy infrastructure companies in North America, ONEOK is delivering energy that makes a difference in the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.
ONEOK is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For information about ONEOK, visit the website: www.oneok.com. For the latest news about ONEOK, find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Megan Patterson 918-561-5325 ONEOKInvestorRelations@oneok.com Charlsey Phillips 918-510-1664 Media@oneok.com
FAQ
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