Tallgrass Appoints Crystal Heter as President and CEO, Announces Leadership Transition
Tallgrass has announced a major transition within its executive leadership team, naming Crystal Heter as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 27, 2026. Heter succeeds Matt Sheehy, who has played a pivotal role in guiding the company’s strategic direction and growth over the past several years. Sheehy previously served as President beginning in 2019 and later assumed the roles of Chief Executive Officer in 2022 and Chairman of the Board in 2024. As part of the broader leadership restructuring, Gary Watkins, currently the company’s Chief Financial Officer, will expand his responsibilities to also serve as Chief Investment Officer.
The leadership changes mark an important moment for Tallgrass as it looks to build on its existing platform while positioning itself for future opportunities within the evolving energy landscape. The appointment of Heter reflects the company’s emphasis on continuity, operational expertise, and deep institutional knowledge.
Heter most recently served as Tallgrass’ Chief Operating Officer and has been an integral part of the company since its early days. She was among the core team members who helped establish Tallgrass in 2012, contributing to the company’s foundation by supporting the transition of several key infrastructure assets into the organization at its inception. Over the years, she has held multiple senior leadership roles across the enterprise, gaining extensive experience in operations, infrastructure development, and strategic management.
During her tenure at Tallgrass, Heter has led several major operational segments and initiatives that have helped shape the company’s growth. Notably, she oversaw the Natural Gas Transportation segment, where she managed critical pipeline infrastructure and worked closely with customers and partners across the natural gas value chain. Her leadership also extended to the Rockies Express Pipeline, where she served as President and played a central role in overseeing one of the most important natural gas transportation systems in the United States. These experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the company’s operations and positioned her to guide Tallgrass through its next phase of development.
Industry leaders and board members have expressed strong confidence in Heter’s leadership capabilities and strategic vision. Matthew Runkle, a Tallgrass Director and Senior Managing Director within Blackstone’s Infrastructure Group, emphasized that Heter brings both operational expertise and a forward-looking perspective to the role.
According to Runkle, Heter has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and a clear ability to navigate complex challenges within the energy sector. He noted that her disciplined approach to execution and her understanding of the company’s strategic priorities will help ensure that Tallgrass remains well positioned as it pursues opportunities across the evolving energy and power landscape. As part of the leadership transition, Runkle will assume the role of Chairman of the Board, further strengthening the company’s governance structure and strategic oversight.
The board also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing CEO Matt Sheehy, whose leadership helped guide Tallgrass through a period of significant expansion and transformation. During his tenure, Sheehy played a central role in advancing the company’s growth strategy and expanding its infrastructure footprint.
One of the major milestones achieved under Sheehy’s leadership was the company’s growth to approximately $1 billion in EBITDA, reflecting substantial operational progress and value creation. In addition, Sheehy oversaw the acquisition of the Ruby Pipeline, a major natural gas transportation asset that strengthened Tallgrass’ presence within key U.S. energy markets.
Sheehy also led efforts to develop large-scale carbon management infrastructure, including initiatives to build what has become the nation’s largest CO₂ transportation and sequestration network. These projects reflect Tallgrass’ broader strategy of supporting both traditional energy infrastructure and emerging solutions that contribute to the evolving energy transition.
Reflecting on his time at Tallgrass, Sheehy expressed gratitude for the company’s employees, partners, and stakeholders who contributed to its achievements. He noted that when he rejoined the organization, he recognized the significant potential that existed within the company and believed strongly in the ability of its people and assets to drive long-term success.
Sheehy also expressed confidence in Heter’s ability to lead the organization into its next chapter. He described her as a highly accomplished executive who has already demonstrated strong leadership and operational expertise, adding that he believes she will build upon the foundation established over the past decade and continue to expand Tallgrass’ capabilities and impact.
For Heter, stepping into the role of President and CEO represents both a professional milestone and a continuation of a long-standing commitment to the company’s mission and values. She acknowledged the leadership provided by Sheehy and emphasized that the organization is well positioned for continued progress.
Heter noted that she approaches the role with a strong sense of responsibility and confidence in the company’s direction. She highlighted Tallgrass’ talented workforce, high-quality infrastructure assets, and strong relationships with customers and partners as key factors that will support its ongoing success.
Looking ahead, Heter indicated that her leadership will focus on maintaining the company’s core priorities of safe and reliable operations while continuing to pursue strategic growth opportunities. She emphasized that disciplined execution and operational excellence will remain central to Tallgrass’ strategy as it works to create long-term value for shareholders, customers, employees, and the communities it serves.
Tallgrass operates a diversified portfolio of midstream energy infrastructure assets across the United States, including natural gas and crude oil pipelines, storage facilities, and carbon management systems. As energy markets continue to evolve, the company has sought to position itself as a flexible infrastructure provider capable of supporting both traditional hydrocarbon systems and emerging low-carbon technologies.
The appointment of Heter as CEO signals Tallgrass’ commitment to leveraging internal leadership talent and institutional expertise to navigate the changing energy environment. With a deep understanding of the company’s operations and strategic priorities, Heter is expected to play a central role in guiding Tallgrass through its next phase of growth and innovation.
The leadership transition also highlights the company’s broader strategy of strengthening governance and executive alignment as it expands its investment and operational capabilities. With Watkins assuming the additional responsibilities of Chief Investment Officer, Tallgrass aims to further enhance its ability to identify and execute strategic investment opportunities that align with its long-term objectives.
As the company enters this new chapter, Tallgrass remains focused on building upon its established foundation while continuing to explore new opportunities within the evolving energy infrastructure landscape. Under Heter’s leadership, the organization is expected to maintain its commitment to operational excellence, responsible development, and long-term value creation.
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