Plains All American and Plains GP Holdings Appoint Energy Veteran Cynthia Taylor to Board of Directors
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and Plains GP Holdings have announced the appointment of veteran energy executive Cynthia B. Taylor as an independent member of the Board of Directors of PAA GP Holdings LLC, further strengthening the leadership structure overseeing one of North America’s largest midstream energy infrastructure networks. Taylor will serve as a Class III director and will also join the Compensation Committee as well as the Health, Safety, Environmental and Sustainability Committee.
The appointment reflects the companies’ continued focus on enhancing corporate governance and strategic oversight as the energy sector undergoes rapid transformation driven by evolving market dynamics, infrastructure investment, operational efficiency goals, and sustainability priorities.
PAA GP Holdings LLC manages the business and affairs of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) and Plains GP Holdings (PAGP), both publicly traded entities that play significant roles in crude oil and natural gas liquids transportation, storage, and logistics across the United States and Canada.
Extensive Industry Leadership Experience
Taylor joins the board with more than three decades of experience in the energy industry, bringing deep expertise in operations, finance, executive management, strategic planning, and corporate governance. Her career has spanned leadership positions across energy services, manufacturing, finance, and public accounting.
Most recently, Taylor served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Oil States International, Inc., a Houston-based diversified energy services and manufacturing company with global operations. She also served on the Oil States Board of Directors throughout her tenure as CEO. Taylor retired from the company in May 2026 after nearly two decades in senior leadership roles.
Her long-standing leadership at Oil States is viewed as especially valuable given the increasing operational complexity facing energy infrastructure companies today. The midstream sector continues to navigate shifting production patterns, commodity price volatility, export growth opportunities, regulatory changes, and energy transition initiatives, all while maintaining safe and reliable operations.
Plains executives emphasized that Taylor’s experience leading a publicly traded energy company positions her well to contribute to board-level discussions related to capital allocation, operational execution, long-term growth strategy, and shareholder value creation.
CEO Willie Chiang Welcomes Appointment
Willie Chiang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Plains, welcomed Taylor’s addition to the board and highlighted the strategic value of her experience.
According to Chiang, Taylor’s extensive operational and executive leadership background will help strengthen the board’s oversight capabilities and provide valuable insight as Plains continues advancing its long-term growth strategy.
Chiang noted that Taylor’s decades of experience in the energy sector, including her leadership at Oil States International, provide her with a strong understanding of the operational and financial challenges facing the industry. He also emphasized her expertise in strategic planning and corporate leadership as important assets for the company.
Her appointment comes at a time when midstream companies are increasingly balancing growth opportunities with financial discipline, sustainability goals, and shareholder returns. Companies operating large-scale infrastructure systems must also address heightened expectations around environmental stewardship, safety performance, and governance practices.
Career Built Across Finance and Energy Operations
Before becoming CEO of Oil States International in 2007, Taylor served as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer from May 2006 to May 2007. Prior to that, she held the roles of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, helping guide the company through periods of expansion and industry change.
Her earlier career included leadership positions outside Oil States as well. From August 1999 to May 2000, Taylor served as Chief Financial Officer of L.E. Simmons & Associates, Incorporated, an investment firm with interests across energy and industrial sectors.
Before that, she spent seven years with Cliffs Drilling Company, serving as Vice President and Controller between 1992 and 1999. Her experience in accounting and financial oversight began at Ernst & Young LLP, where she held various management roles from 1984 through 1992.
The combination of financial expertise and operational leadership is expected to contribute significantly to the Plains board as the company evaluates future infrastructure investments, operational efficiencies, and market expansion opportunities.
Strong Governance and Public Company Experience
In addition to her corporate leadership roles, Taylor brings extensive governance experience through her service on several prominent boards and institutions.
She served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from January 2020 through the end of 2025. Prior to that role, she was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank’s Houston Branch from 2018 to 2019. Her experience with the Federal Reserve system provided exposure to broader economic, financial, and regional development issues impacting businesses and industries across the country.
Taylor has also served as a director of AT&T Inc. since 2013 and currently chairs the telecommunications company’s audit committee. Her experience overseeing financial reporting, compliance, and governance processes at a major multinational corporation adds another layer of expertise to the Plains board.
Her background is expected to support Plains’ efforts to maintain strong governance standards and disciplined financial oversight as investors continue placing greater emphasis on transparency and risk management within the energy industry.
Educational and Professional Credentials
Taylor earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Her accounting and financial management background has been a consistent element throughout her career and is considered especially valuable in today’s energy environment, where companies are navigating capital-intensive operations alongside evolving investor expectations.
Plains’ Role in North American Energy Infrastructure
Plains All American Pipeline is one of the largest midstream energy infrastructure companies in North America. The company owns and operates an extensive network of crude oil and natural gas liquids transportation, gathering, storage, processing, and export assets.
Its infrastructure footprint spans major producing basins, transportation corridors, market hubs, and export terminals across the United States and Canada. Plains handles more than nine million barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids on average, underscoring its central role in North American energy logistics.
The company’s operations include pipeline transportation systems, storage terminals, processing facilities, fractionation assets, and logistics services that help move energy products efficiently from production regions to refining and export markets.
As energy demand patterns continue evolving, midstream operators such as Plains are increasingly focused on maintaining operational reliability while investing strategically in infrastructure modernization and optimization.
Source Link: https://ir.plains.com/
