Wick Moorman named Amtrak chief executive

Amtrak’s next President and Chief Executive Officer is an experienced and deeply respected Class I freight railroader who brings more than 40 years in railroading to the position: Charles W. “Wick” Moorman, who recently retired as Executive Chairman of Norfolk Southern Corp.

Railway Age’s 2011 Railroader of the Year will take over Amtrak’s throttle on Sept. 1, 2016, on a $1 per year salary plus an annual bonus of $500,000 tied to performance goals. Moorman succeeds current CEO Joe Boardman, who announced his intention to retire last fall.

Moorman is only the second Amtrak chief executive with practical railroad experience since the legendary W. Graham Claytor, Jr., who ran Norfolk Southern predecessor Southern Railway from 1967 to 1977, retired from Amtrak in 1993 after 11 years. He was named Railroader of the Year in 1989. David Gunn, who began his career with the Santa Fe Railway in the 1960s, ran Amtrak from 2002 to 2005.

“I view this as public service,” Moorman told Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. “Amtrak is important to the freight rail carriers, and to the country. This is something I really want to do, and I believe I can contribute to making Amtrak a better railroad. I’m sure the work will be interesting, and I hope it will be fun as well.” Moorman added that he “is not doing this for the money” (performance-based bonuses are extended to other Amtrak employees) and that he “has not been unhappy in retirement.”

In Amtrak’s press release announcing his appointment, Moorman said, “It is an honor and privilege to take on the role of CEO at Amtrak, and I look forward to working with its dedicated employees to find ways to provide even better service to our passengers and the nation. At Norfolk Southern, our team fostered change by placing a solid emphasis on performance across all aspects of our business, which helped develop a stronger safety and service culture throughout the company. I look forward to advancing those same goals at Amtrak and helping to build a plan for future growth.”

Moorman comes to Amtrak after more than 40 years at NS and predecessor Southern Railway, where he began his career as a track worker during college and then rose from management trainee to Chairman, President and CEO. A graduate of Georgia Tech and Harvard Business School, Moorman serves on the boards of Duke Energy Corporation, Chevron Corporation, the Virginia chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and the Georgia Tech Foundation.

“Wick Moorman is a proven railroader whose track record of success demonstrates his commitment and adherence to rail safety, efficiency and service to customers,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ed Hamberger. “His contributions and leadership in the freight rail industry, I believe, will advance the working partnership the freight railroads have with Amtrak. The AAR and its freight rail members recognize the importance of Amtrak as a reliable U.S. passenger rail service and look forward to working with Wick in his new capacity.”

Similar accolades came from Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia and Vice Chairman Jeffrey Moreland. “We are very pleased that someone with Wick’s experience and vision will lead Amtrak during this critical period as the company charts a course for future growth and improvement,” said Coscia, who believes Moorman will improve Amtrak’s relationship with freight carriers. “He clearly understands both worlds, and he’s going to be in a position to try to get us all to a much better place.”

“Wick’s deep operational background and track record of building teams and driving innovation is exactly what we need to provide unparalleled service to the more than 500 communities we serve,” said Moreland. “We are confident that, working together with the Board, Wick can formulate a strong plan to take Amtrak to the next level and assemble the management team and expertise to carry it forward.”

In a letter to Amtrak employees, Coscia said, “Having worked at NS from the ground up, Wick Moorman and his team modernized the way that NS conducted business, served customers and worked with communities. As CEO, he emphasized performance and teamwork across all aspects of the company, helping to drive a new culture of safety and service throughout NS’s system. When he retired, NS was well-positioned to leverage opportunities and manage future challenges. Wick has the expertise and vision to build on the record levels of performance and investment that Amtrak achieved under Joe Boardman’s leadership. He is looking forward to meeting with employees and stakeholders to establish a strong agenda to grow and strengthen Amtrak and to work together with the Board to chart a course for our future.”

Boardman, Railway Age’s 2014 Railroader of the Year, led Amtrak for eight years. He said that he “has been humbled to lead this extraordinary organization. . . . I look forward to spending time with my family and wish Wick all the best as he brings his excellent experience to Amtrak.”

“Joe recognized the delicate balance that exists in this country between freight rail and passenger rail and was a partner in forging new ways to find that right transportation mix,” noted Ed Hamberger. “Joe’s steadfast commitment to positively advancing the role of Amtrak and raising the profile of passenger rail in the United States has left an enduring record of achievement.”