Energy veterans Helms and Turner join Williams (NYSE: WMB) board
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Williams Companies has appointed Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. and Robb E. Turner as independent directors, effective July 1, 2026, and expanded its Board from ten to twelve members. Both are deemed independent and financially literate under NYSE and SEC standards.
Helms brings more than 40 years of oil and gas operational and leadership experience, most recently as president and chief operating officer at EOG Resources. Turner offers over 35 years in energy operations, corporate finance and energy-focused private equity investing, including co-founding ArcLight Capital Partners and leading The Madava Group and Revenant Energy.
As non-employee directors, each will receive a $130,000 annual cash retainer and a $200,000 annual equity retainer in restricted stock units, with 2026 equity awards subject to a mandatory one-year deferral from grant. With these additions, Williams’ Board now has 12 members, 11 of whom are independent.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
3 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Board size: 12 directors
Independent directors: 11 independent directors
Annual cash retainer: $130,000
+5 more
8 metrics
Board size
12 directors
Board increased from ten to twelve members effective July 1, 2026
Independent directors
11 independent directors
Board composition after adding Helms and Turner
Annual cash retainer
$130,000
Standard annual cash retainer for each non-employee director
Annual equity retainer
$200,000
Annual restricted stock unit grant for each non-employee director
Equity deferral period
1 year
Mandatory deferral for 2026 equity awards from grant date
Helms industry experience
40+ years
Oil and gas industry experience including senior roles at EOG
Turner energy experience
35+ years
Energy operations, corporate finance and energy investments
Natural gas delivered
one third
Williams delivers one third of the nation’s natural gas
Key Terms
independent directors, restricted stock units, Regulation FD Disclosure, NYSE Listed Company Manual, +2 more
6 terms
independent directors regulatory
"appointed Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. and Robb E. Turner as independent directors on the Board"
Members of a company’s board who do not have significant business, family, or financial ties to the company and are not part of its management; they are chosen to provide impartial oversight of strategy, financial reporting, executive pay and risk. They matter to investors because independent directors act like an objective referee, helping ensure decisions favor shareholders’ long-term interests rather than insiders, which can strengthen trust and reduce the chance of mismanagement or conflicts of interest.
restricted stock units financial
"annual equity retainer in the form of restricted stock units issued pursuant to The Williams Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure. On July 1, 2026, the Company furnished a press release"
Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.
NYSE Listed Company Manual regulatory
"within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ... and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE Listed Company Manual”)"
A NYSE Listed Company Manual is the rulebook that sets the standards and obligations companies must meet to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, covering eligibility, ongoing disclosure, corporate governance and trading procedures. For investors it matters because the manual enforces transparency and minimum safeguards—like a building code for markets—so shareholders can trust that listed companies provide timely information and meet basic financial and governance standards.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law."
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
Incentive Plan financial
"restricted stock units issued pursuant to The Williams Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan"
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2026 (June 30, 2026)
The Williams Companies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | ||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (918 ) 573-2000
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| Emerging growth company | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On July 1, 2026, The Williams Companies, Inc. (“the Company”) announced that Robb E. Turner and Lloyd W. (Billy) Helms, Jr., have been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2026. Mr. Turner will serve on the Audit Committee and the Governance and Sustainability Committee. Mr. Helms will serve on the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee. Effective July 1, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved an increase in the size of the Board from ten to twelve directors.
The Board determined that each of Mr. Turner and Mr. Helms are independent directors within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE Listed Company Manual”). The Board also determined that Mr. Turner and Mr. Helms are financially literate within the meaning of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Turner or Mr. Helms and any other person in connection with their appointments as directors of the Company. Neither Mr. Turner nor Mr. Helms is related to any officer or director of the Company, and there are no transactions or relationships between Mr. Turner or Mr. Helms and the Company and its subsidiaries that require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
In connection with Mr. Turner’s and Mr. Helms’s appointment as non-employee directors, they will receive the standard annual benefits paid to each non-employee director including: (i) $130,000 annual cash retainer; and (ii) $200,000 annual equity retainer in the form of restricted stock units issued pursuant to The Williams Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Incentive Plan. The annual cash retainer is paid through quarterly cash payments. The 2026 equity awards to be paid to each of Mr. Turner and Mr. Helms are subject to a mandatory one-year deferral from grant date. Subsequent annual equity awards are subject to a director’s election to defer awards either one year from the grant date or until the director leaves the Board.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On July 1, 2026, the Company furnished a press release regarding the appointment of Mr. Turner and Mr. Helms described above in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated in this Item 7.01 by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information furnished under this Item 7.01 on this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto are deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press Release dated July 1, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File. The cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document (contained in Exhibit 101). | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. | |||||||||||
| Dated: | July 1, 2026 | By: | /s/ Robert E. Riley, Jr. | ||||||||
| Robert E. Riley, Jr. | |||||||||||
| Vice President and Assistant General Counsel -- Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
| News Release | Williams (NYSE: WMB) One Williams Center Tulsa, OK 74172 800-Williams www.williams.com |  | ||||||
DATE: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
| MEDIA: | INVESTOR CONTACT: | ||||||||||
| media@williams.com (800) 945-8723 | Caroline Sardella (918) 230-9992 | Ashley Mitchell (918) 240-6082 | |||||||||
Williams Appoints Billy Helms and Robb Turner to Board of Directors
TULSA, Okla. – Williams (NYSE: WMB) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. and Robb E. Turner as independent directors on the Board, effective July 1, 2026.
Helms brings more than 40 years of energy industry experience, most recently serving as president of EOG Resources, Inc., one of the largest exploration and production companies in the United States. During his career working across multiple divisions at EOG, he held several senior positions of increasing responsibility including chief operating officer from 2017 to 2023.
Turner has more than 35 years of energy operations, corporate finance and public and private equity and debt investment experience. He is chairman of The Madava Group and Revenant Energy and previously co-founded ArcLight Capital Partners, where he helped oversee investment, asset management, strategic planning and operations across the energy sector.
“We are pleased to welcome Billy and Robb to the Williams Board of Directors,” said Stephen W. Bergstrom, chairman of the Williams Board of Directors. “Williams is well positioned to support significant growth underway as demand for clean, reliable and affordable energy continues to increase. As we advance our natural gas-focused strategy, disciplined governance and experienced oversight remain central to our ability to create durable long-term value. Billy’s deep operational and technical experience across the energy sector and Robb’s broad background in energy operations, corporate finance and public and private energy investments will add valuable perspectives to the Board as we continue serving our customers, communities and shareholders.”
With the appointment of Helms and Turner, the Williams Board of Directors consists of 12 members, 11 of whom are independent.
About Billy Helms
Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. has more than 40 years of oil and gas industry experience, including more than 15 years in executive leadership roles. He most recently served at EOG Resources, Inc., where he held several senior positions of increasing responsibility, including president from October 2021 to May 2024, chief operating officer from December 2017 to December 2023, executive vice president, exploration and production from August 2013 to December 2017, executive vice president, operations from February 2012 to August 2013, vice president and general manager of the Calgary, Alberta office from March 2008 to February 2012, and vice president, engineering and acquisitions from September 2006 to March 2008. In these roles, Helms led significant operational, technical, engineering and acquisition-related functions across EOG’s business. Helms joined the SM Energy Board of Directors in
January 2026 upon the closing of the merger with Civitas Resources, Inc. and served on its Audit Committee. He currently serves as chair of the Operations and EHS Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee. He previously served as an independent director of Civitas Resources. Helms holds a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University.
About Robb Turner
Robb E. Turner is chairman of The Madava Group, a holding company with interests in private and public energy companies, real estate and consumer food products, and has more than 35 years of energy operations, corporate finance and public and private equity and debt investment experience. He currently serves as chairman of Revenant Energy, an East Texas natural gas upstream company, and previously served as chairman of Crowheart Energy prior to its sale to Williams Companies. Through his Madava family office, Turner has made 15 private energy investments since 2017 across upstream, midstream, natural gas pipelines, terminals and metal trading, successfully exiting 14 of those investments. Prior to Madava, Turner was senior partner and co-founder of ArcLight Capital Partners, a leading power and energy private equity firm, where he helped oversee investment, asset management, strategic planning and operations for ArcLight and its funds. During his career at ArcLight, the firm raised six funds and invested more than $17 billion of private equity across the energy sector. Before co-founding ArcLight in 2001, Turner held senior positions at Wall Street firms advising on buyouts, corporate finance structures, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his business career, Turner served as an officer in the United States Army as a combat engineer. Turner earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
About Williams
Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a trusted energy industry leader committed to safely, reliably and responsibly meeting growing energy demand. We use our infrastructure to deliver one third of the nation’s natural gas to where it's needed most, supplying the energy used to heat our homes, cook our food and generate low-carbon electricity. For over a century, we’ve been driven by a passion for doing things the right way. Today, our team of problem solvers is leading the charge into the clean energy future. Learn more at www.williams.com.
Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although Williams believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in Williams’ annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC.
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FAQ
What did Williams (WMB) announce about its Board of Directors?
Williams announced the appointment of Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. and Robb E. Turner as independent directors, effective July 1, 2026. The Board size increased from ten to twelve members, and both new directors were found independent and financially literate under NYSE and SEC standards.
What experience does Billy Helms bring to the Williams (WMB) Board?
Billy Helms brings more than 40 years of oil and gas industry experience, including senior leadership roles at EOG Resources. He served as president, chief operating officer and executive vice president in multiple operational and technical roles, providing deep expertise in operations, engineering and acquisitions to Williams’ Board.
Who is Robb E. Turner, the new director at Williams (WMB)?
Robb E. Turner is chairman of The Madava Group and Revenant Energy with over 35 years in energy operations, corporate finance and energy investments. He co-founded ArcLight Capital Partners and has led numerous private energy investments across upstream, midstream, pipelines, terminals and related sectors.
How will the new Williams (WMB) directors be compensated?
Each new non-employee director will receive a standard package: a $130,000 annual cash retainer, paid quarterly, and a $200,000 annual equity retainer in restricted stock units. The 2026 equity awards are subject to a mandatory one-year deferral from the grant date under Williams’ incentive plan.
How independent is the Williams (WMB) Board after these appointments?
With the appointments of Billy Helms and Robb Turner, the Williams Board consists of 12 members, 11 of whom are independent. The Board determined both new directors meet independence and financial literacy requirements under the Securities Exchange Act and the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
What Board committees will the new Williams (WMB) directors serve on?
Robb E. Turner will serve on the Audit Committee and the Governance and Sustainability Committee. Lloyd W. “Billy” Helms, Jr. will serve on the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee, contributing to oversight in key financial, governance and operational areas.
What does Williams (WMB) say about its broader business in this update?
Williams describes itself as an energy industry leader delivering about one third of the nation’s natural gas through its infrastructure. The company emphasizes safe, reliable and responsible operations, supporting heating, cooking and low-carbon electricity generation while pursuing a natural gas-focused strategy for the evolving energy landscape.