For G&W, Changes at the Top
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
G&W’s Jack Hellmann (left), Michael Miller (center) and Mike Peters.
Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) on April 25 reported that Jack Hellmann will transition to Executive Chairman of the short line holding company’s North American and UK/Europe Boards of Directors, following 16 years of service as G&W CEO. The move is effective Sept. 1, at which time Hellmann will also become Vice Chair of Brookfield Infrastructure, G&W’s controlling shareholder.
Hellmann, Railway Age’s 2018 Railroader of the Year, will be succeeded by Michael Miller. As CEO, Miller will be responsible for North American operations. He is currently G&W President, North America, a role he’s held since October 2018. Miller joined the company 13 years ago and spent eight years as Chief Commercial Officer. In 2022, he was named one of 10 Influential Leaders by Railway Age readers.
Tim Shoveller is expected to begin work as CEO of G&W’s UK/Europe operations by late summer, according to G&W. He most recently served as Managing Director, North West and Central Region at Network Rail in the U.K.
Additionally, Mike Peters has been promoted to Chief Customer Officer for G&W North America. According to G&W, he will be focused on “improving the customer experience and enhancing the value of rail transportation” across the company’s 110 affiliated railroads as well as developing long-term market strategies in 43 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Peters joined G&W 10 years ago, and has worked for the past five years as Chief Commercial Officer. He also served as Senior Vice President of Industrial Development and Real Estate.
“Our leadership changes bring exciting energy to G&W’s trajectory of growth,” Jack Hellmann said. “Michael Miller’s leadership, commercial acumen and commitment to G&W’s core values make him the ideal North American CEO to lead us through the execution of our strategic plan. Mike Peters has done an excellent job building our commercial capabilities, and his now exclusive focus on enhancing our rail customers’ experience will be critical to our success. Tim Shoveller will make a terrific addition to the UK/European business as we continue to strengthen its industry-leading safety and service to our intermodal logistics and heavy-haul customers.”
Hellmann is among the industry’s youngest chief executives. He joined G&W in January 2000 and served as Chief Financial Officer through April 2005. He was named President in May 2005 and became CEO in June 2007, succeeding Mortimer B. Fuller III, a great-grandson of Edward L. Fuller, who founded the 14.5-mile Genesee &Wyoming Railroad Co. in 1899. Previously, Hellmann worked in investment banking at Lehman Brothers, Inc., in the Emerging Communications Group, and at Schroder & Co. Inc., in the Transportation Group. He also worked for Weyerhaeuser Co. in Japan and the People’s Republic of China.
