USA: Norfolk Southern Chairman & CEO James A Squires is to retire on May 1 2022, with Executive Vice-President & Chief Marketing Officer Alan H Shaw becoming CEO.
Shaw has 27 years of experience in marketing, operations and finance at Norfolk Southern, and was appointed CMO in May 2015.
As part of the succession process, the NS board has elected Shaw to the role of President with immediate effect, the company announced on December 2.
Ed Elkins has been promoted to Executive Vice-President & CMO, with James ‘Leggett’ Kitchin, currently group Vice-President of Domestic Intermodal Marketing & Sales, succeeding him as Vice-President of Industrial Products.
‘This is the right moment for a leadership transition’, said Squires. ‘The company is in rock-solid position, I’ve accomplished what I set out to achieve, and our board of directors has identified the right leader in Alan Shaw to guide Norfolk Southern in its next chapter of success and value creation.’
Lead independent director Steven F Leer said ‘Jim is retiring at the top of his game. Thanks to Jim’s leadership, Norfolk Southern has a strong foundation for continued success. During his tenure he has increased shareholder value by more than $30bn, implemented precision scheduled railroading, led the company through a freight recession and global pandemic, and brought company leadership together in a new, state-of-the-art Atlanta headquarters.’
