NS names Earhart EVP and CFO

Norfolk Southern has appointed Cynthia C. Earhart as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Aug. 15, 2017. She succeeds Vice President and Controller Thomas E. Hurlbut, who served as interim CFO since Aug. 1, 2017, following the retirement of Marta R. Stewart.

Earhart, a certified public accountant, joined NS in 1985 and most recently served as EVP and Chief Information Officer. In connection with her appointment as CFO, she will retain her information technology responsibilities. Since joining the NS accounting department in 1985, Earhart held positions of increasing responsibility in that department, including Assistant Vice President, before transitioning to IT. She was named VP of IT in 2001.

In 2007, Earhart was named VP Human Resources, and in 2013, she was appointed EVP Administration. She assumed expanded responsibilities as EVP Administration and CIO in 2015.

A certified public accountant, Earhart began her career at NS following service as an accountant at Ernst & Young predecessor CPA firm Ernst and Whinney. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Missouri and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

“After an extensive review of internal and external candidates, the Board is pleased to announce Cindy’s appointment as CFO,” said NS Chairman, President and CEO.James A. Squires. “Cindy has a strong financial background, a comprehensive understanding of NS operations, and a proven track record as a senior executive who challenges thinking and encourages innovation. As we continue to leverage technology enhancements to drive further improvements in customer service and productivity, we are confident that having Cindy in this key position will accelerate our progress. We welcome Cindy to her new role and look forward to benefiting from her expertise as we build on our success in reducing costs, driving profitability and accelerating growth.”