Anita Powers
SM EnergyAbout Anita M. Powers
Independent director since 2021; age 69 as of March 1, 2025. Former EVP of Worldwide Exploration at Occidental Petroleum with 42+ years in E&P; BS in Geology from Texas A&M University. Serves on Audit and Compensation Committees; number of other current public company boards: one (EQT) as of 2025, with prior service at California Resources Corporation (CRC) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occidental Petroleum / Occidental Oil & Gas | EVP, Worldwide Exploration; VP Occidental Petroleum | 2007–2016; prior roles 1980–2007 | Led global exploration; deep Permian and geology expertise |
| Cities Service Company | Training program | c. 1979–1980 | Early industry training |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) | Director | 2018–2025 | Current other public board; one total as of 2025 |
| California Resources Corp. (NYSE: CRC) | Director | 2017–2020 | Prior board service |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Compensation Committee member .
- Independence: Board comprises entirely independent directors except the CEO; all three key committees are solely independent .
- Attendance: Board met 19 times in 2024; no director <90% attendance; all directors 100% attendance on their committees; non‑management directors held five executive sessions; directors expected to attend annual meeting and did in 2024 (Venkatraman not yet appointed) .
- Board leadership: Independent Chairman; CEO and Chair roles separated since 2007 .
- Stock ownership & trading policies: Directors must maintain equity equal to 5x annual cash retainer; hedging, margin, pledging, options/derivatives are prohibited .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Retainer ($) | $0 (elected in shares) | $0 (elected in shares) | $95,000 |
| Equity Retainer ($ grant-date fair value) | $270,079 | $270,026 | $185,031 |
| Committee Chair Fees ($) | $0 (not a chair) | $0 (not a chair) | $0 (not a chair) |
| Other Compensation ($) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total ($) | $270,079 | $270,026 | $280,031 |
Notes:
- Standard non‑employee director package for 2024–2025 term: $95,000 cash retainer and $185,000 equity grant; chair retainers: Audit $25,000, Compensation $20,000, G&S $15,000; meeting fees paid only if >30 meetings, none exceeded .
Performance Compensation
Not applicable. Non‑employee directors at SM do not receive performance‑tied bonuses or options; no stock options have been issued to directors since December 2004 and none are outstanding .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | EQT Corporation (2018–2025) |
| Prior public boards | California Resources Corporation (2017–2020) |
| Compensation Committee interlocks | None in 2024 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Exploration & geology leadership; strong Permian and project management experience from Oxy .
- Financial, capital management, and risk oversight experience suitable for Audit/Comp Committee service .
- Education: BS, Geology, Texas A&M University .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 8,147 | 17,959 | 21,809 |
| Percent of shares outstanding | <1% each year | ||
| Ownership guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer (directors) | ||
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited; pre‑clearance required for trading |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment: Mix leans heavily to equity; Powers repeatedly elected to take cash retainer in shares (2022–2023, 2023–2024), reinforcing alignment; for 2024 she received standard cash plus equity package .
- Committee effectiveness: Member on both Audit and Compensation—key risk and pay oversight committees; all members independent; Audit members designated “financial experts” .
- Engagement/attendance: Strong engagement—100% committee meeting attendance; robust board schedule with executive sessions .
- Conflicts/related party: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Powers; only disclosed related‑party matter pertains to an executive’s spouse (CIO), reviewed/approved by Audit Committee .
- RED FLAGS: None identified specific to Powers—no hedging/pledging, no options, no interlocks, high attendance, independence affirmed .