David Patrick Michels
Summary
David Patrick Michels is Kinder Morgan's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since 2018 after joining the company in 2012 and serving in finance, investor relations, and subsidiary CFO roles. ([kindermorgan.com](https://kindermorgan.com/About-Us/Management))
Biography
Michels joined Kinder Morgan in 2012 as vice president of finance and became vice president of finance and investor relations in 2013. He also served as chief financial officer of El Paso Pipeline Partners in 2013 and 2014 before becoming Kinder Morgan's CFO in 2018. ([kindermorgan.com](https://kindermorgan.com/About-Us/Management)) Before joining Kinder Morgan, Michels worked in energy investment banking at Barclays and Lehman Brothers, advising companies on capital formation, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate strategy. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. As CFO, he oversees treasury, tax, accounting, financial reporting, investor relations, and financial planning. ([kindermorgan.com](https://kindermorgan.com/About-Us/Management))
Notable achievements
- Helped maintain Kinder Morgan's access to debt financing while supporting growth projects and regular shareholder distributions. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630726000011/kmi-2025x10kxexh322.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Supported the company's internal funding of capital projects, including a reported $1.5 billion in operating cash flow and $0.7 billion in free cash flow after capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2024. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630725000002/kmi2024q48-kex991.htm))
- Helped finance and evaluate the $640 million Outrigger Energy gathering and processing acquisition in North Dakota. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630725000002/kmi2024q48-kex991.htm))
- Kinder Morgan reported a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 4.0 times at the end of 2024, reflecting management's stated effort to keep leverage within its financial framework while investing for growth. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630725000002/kmi2024q48-kex991.htm))
- Signed and certified Kinder Morgan's 2025 annual report as the company's principal financial and accounting officer. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630726000011/kmi-2025x10kxexh322.htm?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- Kinder Morgan's capital-intensive business requires continued management of substantial debt, interest costs, and refinancing needs, placing ongoing pressure on the CFO's balance-sheet and capital-allocation responsibilities. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630726000011/kmi-20251231.htm?utm_source=openai))
- The company's earnings remain exposed to commodity prices and volumes in businesses such as carbon dioxide, enhanced oil recovery, gathering, and processing, even though much of its pipeline cash flow is contract-based. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1506307/000150630725000002/kmi2024q48-kex991.htm))
- No major personal controversy involving Michels was identified in the reviewed company filings and reputable public sources.