diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/network/OWNERS b/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/network/OWNERS
index 358b5e2b627..08cc0a0825f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/network/OWNERS
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/network/OWNERS
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 approvers:
 - thockin
 - dchen1107
-- matchstick
 - freehan
 - dcbw
+emeritus_approvers:
+- matchstick
 reviewers:
 - sig-network-reviewers
 labels:
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/network/OWNERS b/pkg/kubelet/network/OWNERS
index 2424e6272dc..ed9efe42284 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/network/OWNERS
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/network/OWNERS
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 approvers:
 - thockin
 - dchen1107
-- matchstick
 - freehan
+emeritus_approvers:
+- matchstick
 reviewers:
 - sig-network-reviewers
 labels: