Wabtec Releases Sustainability Report, Appoints Chief HR Officer
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Wabtec Corp. is outlining its sustainability strategy in a new 46-page report. The company also announced the appointment of Nicole Theophilus as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, succeeding Scott Wahlstrom, who has retired.
Wabtec’s 2020 Sustainability Report includes the company’s goals to address climate change, automation and digitization, and urbanization, as well as “notable actions” it has taken.
Among them:
- “In 2020, Wabtec developed the world’s first 100%, heavy-haul battery-electric locomotive. The FLXdrive™ locomotive features an overall train energy management system, including approximately 20,000 battery cells that can reduce train fuel usage and emissions by 10%-30%.
- “The company hit a key milestone with Trip Optimizer™, an intelligent cruise control system for trains, that is EPA-certified and reduces locomotive emissions by roughly 10%. In 2020, the company installed Trip Optimizer on its 11,000th locomotive, saving 400 million gallons of fuel overall and reducing carbon emissions by over 500,000 tons per year—the equivalent of removing 100,000 cars from the road.
- “Through the use of additive technologies, the company produced over 1,250 additive prototypes last year and was the first rail supplier to introduce metallic 3D printed parts in production on rolling stock in North America. Wabtec plans to use additive manufacturing to produce over 25,000 parts by 2025.”
In addition, Wabtec said that new-hire Nicole Theophilus will be responsible for leading its global HR organization, including talent management, leadership development and learning, and compensation and benefits.
Chief Human Resources Officer,
Wabtec Corp.
With more than 20 years of experience, Theophilus has served as Chief Human Resource Officer at ConAgra as well as West Corp. While at ConAgra, she focused on the consolidation of multiple independently operating business units; at West, she was “instrumental in driving a large-scale, complex cultural transformation.”
“Niki’s robust experience in coaching, organizational and talent management will help catapult Wabtec to the next level, fueling continued growth,” Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana said.
