EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) announced Dec. 17 that Mark G. Papa informed the board of directors he is stepping down from the board for personal reasons effective Dec. 15. The board will now consist of seven members.

"I would like to thank Mark for his continued service to EOG as a board member during the past year after his retirement from the company at the end of 2013," said William R. (Bill) Thomas, chairman and CEO, in a statement. "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Mark for his many contributions and offer him and his wife Susan our best wishes as he continues his retirement."

Papa worked for EOG and its predecessor companies for more than 32 years. He served as the CEO of EOG from 1998 to 2013. Prior to that he had served as the COO and president of North American operations. He also served as executive chairman and prior to that as chairman of the board and CEO for more than 13 years. He joined Belco Petroleum Corp., a predecessor of EOG, in 1981.

Papa also serves as a director of Oil States International Inc. since 2001, a publicly traded oilfield service company, on the compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees. He has served as a director of the general partner of Magellan Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: MMP) as chairman of the compensation committee and as a member of the audit and conflicts committees.