Williams’ once mighty pipeline empire has been decimated by the corporation’s financial troubles and its executive personnel have been cut as well, according to a notice appearing Tuesday on the Northwest Pipeline electronic bulletin board.

In a notice to “all shippers,” Doug Whisenant, president of Williams Gas Pipeline, announced that of the 23 officers dedicated to the company’s gas pipeline business, only seven remained, in a new structure “better aligned to the current size and focus of our business unit.” The seven does not include officers from legal and finance and accounting.

He pointed to the sales by Williams of Kern River, Cove Point, and Williams Central, and its interest in Northern Border and Alliance pipelines. In addition the company has “gained efficiencies through implementation of common practices and enterprise shared services, and limited our business development to organic opportunities on our three remaining pipelines.

“We are saddened by the impact of recent events on co-workers that have made significant contributions to our company. Despite the departure of some very capable people, we remain a very talented team. I am therefore optimistic that with our focused, dedicated effort (and a little good luck), we should again see great success.”

Effective immediately, thos reporting to Whisenant are: Allison Bridges, Vice President, Customer Service- Northwest; Dean Jones, Vice President, Customer Service-Texas Gas; Frank Ferazzi, Vice President, Customer Service-Transco; Randy Barnard, Vice President, Operations; Nancy Schultz, Vice President, Operations and Engineering Services; Dave Dean, Vice President, Engineering and Construction.

Whisenant also said that in the short term Jim Moore will assist in transitional activities, including the finalization of previously announced asset sales.

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