USA: Senior Vice-President Transportation & Network Operations Paul Duncan is to become Chief Operating Officer of Norfolk Southern with effect from January 1.
He replaces Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn, who is stepping down at the end of this year after a 35-year career in the rail industry. Sanborn joined NS in September 2020, having previously served as Vice-President Network Planning at Union Pacific and Executive Vice-President & COO at CSX.
‘As the first female Chief Operating Officer of a Class 1 railroad in the United States, she has been a trailblazer and an inspiration to many’, said President & CEO Alan H Shaw when the change was announced on November 14.
‘Cindy joined Norfolk Southern during the pandemic and helped us navigate a global supply chain disruption. She strengthened our culture, served as an effective ambassador with our outside stakeholders and was part of a team effort that has achieved significant improvements in service.’
Duncan joined NS from BNSF in March 2022 as Vice-President Network Planning & Operations, and was promoted to Senior Vice-President Transportation & Network Operations in September. Shaw said that he ‘combines a deep understanding of precision scheduled railroading with a strong customer-centric mindset, and appreciates the need to balance service, productivity and growth’.
