Leadership transition at Norfolk Southern

Continuing a tradition of smooth leadership transitions, Norfolk Southern Executive Chairman Charles W. “Wick” Moorman will be stepping down effective Oct. 1, 2015. President and CEO James A. Squires will become Chairman.

There are other retirement-driven changes in the works. Mark D. Manion, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will retire effective Feb. 1, 2016. Manion’s replacement will be Vice President Engineering Michael J. Wheeler, who before assuming COO duties will serve as Senior Vice President Operations, effective Oct. 1, 2015, through Jan. 31, 2016. Assistant Vice President Maintenance of Way Philip Merilli will replace Wheeler as Vice President Engineering.

Additionally, effective Oct. 1, Cindy C. Earhart becomes Executive Vice President Administration and Chief Information Officer, reflecting her new responsibility for NS’s Information Technology department following the Oct. 1 retirement of Deborah H. Butler.

Moorman, Railway Age’s 2011 Railroader of the Year, will continue to serve as a director until retiring from the board effective Dec. 31, 2015. He will serve as Senior Advisor to CEO Squires from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, at which time he will retire as a Norfolk Southern employee.

Squires, 54, joined NS in 1992 and served in numerous law, finance and administration positions before being named President in 2013 and CEO in March 2015. “Jim goes forward with the people, resources, and creativity to take Norfolk Southern to the next level in service to our shareholders, customers and communities,” said Moorman. “That mandate is clear, and I have the highest confidence that Jim and the entire Norfolk Southern team will succeed admirably.”

“Jim’s appointment reflects Norfolk Southern’s robust succession process in support of sustainable growth, service dependability, financial success and value creation for shareholders,” said Steven F. Leer, the company’s lead independent director. “Norfolk Southern and all of those who depend on NS benefit from a seasoned, thoughtful and future-focused leader in Jim Squires. Jim, his senior management team, and the entire NS workforce enjoy the board’s full confidence and support as we work together to make the most of the opportunities ahead.”

“I speak for the 30,000-strong Norfolk Southern team in expressing our gratitude for Wick’s leadership, friendship and vision over some of the most remarkable years in Norfolk Southern’s history,” said Squires. “Thanks in great part to him, Norfolk Southern and the railroad industry are far more modern in our thinking, more technologically advanced in our operations and more thoughtful in managing our footprint for our business partners and those we serve.”

“Simply put, Wick’s imprint is unique and indelible,” said Leer. “It is my great honor, on behalf of Norfolk Southern’s entire board, to offer congratulations and best wishes to Wick and his family.”

Manion joined NS in 1975 as a management trainee. He served in a range of operations positions, including trainmaster, superintendent, general manager, Vice President Mechanical, and Senior Vice President Transportation Operations before being named Executive Vice President Operations in 2004 with responsibility for transportation, mechanical, engineering, safety and environmental, and other employees who together represent the majority of NS’s workforce.

“Mark’s leadership is characterized by big ideas and big results,” Squires said. “As COO, he has promoted improvements in the railroad’s ability to capture, synthesize and report metrics that reflect the network’s timeliness and reliability,” the railroad said. He has supported research and implementation of groundbreaking initiatives such as the Unified Train Control System and Movement Planner to reduce traffic congestion, LEADER technology to boost fuel efficiency, and locomotive rebuilds to reduce operating costs. Mark has had a profound influence not just on the work that is done, but on the way in which it is done. He has led the implementation of a behavior-based management approach that develops leadership in employees at every level, bringing real change to Norfolk Southern’s culture. In addition, he has championed new approaches to workplace and operational safety that emphasize personal responsibility.”

“Mark’s contributions to Norfolk Southern’s operations and culture have been extraordinary,” said Squires. “His ideas and initiatives have impacted every NS employee and every NS customer.”

Wheeler, who has served as Vice President Engineering since 2012, joined NS in 1985 as a research engineer. He served in positions of increasing responsibility in the corporation’s mechanical and transportation areas, including shop superintendent, trainmaster, division superintendent, and general manager before being named Vice President Transportation in 2009. Wheeler holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

Earhart, the new CIO, joined NS in 1985 as supervisor subsidiary accounting. She served in key accounting and information technology positions before being named vice president human resources in 2007 and executive vice president administration in 2013. Earhart earned her degree from the University of Missouri.

Merilli will be based in Atlanta, reporting to Wheeler. His department is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and inspection of the rail network’s tracks, bridges and signal systems. Merilli, who has served as Assistant Vice President Maintenance of Way and Structures since 2013, joined an NS predecessor line in 1981 as an assistant roadmaster. He served in a variety of engineering positions, including track supervisor, division engineer, and chief engineer line maintenance, before being named to his most recent position. He holds a degree from Penn State.

“Mike Wheeler and Cindy Earhart have the experience and expertise to build on Norfolk Southern’s culture of excellence,” said Squires. “As part of our senior leadership team, they have earned the highest levels of trust and respect from those who depend on us for the reliable, efficient, and safe delivery of the freight that makes the economy move.”