McNeely to lead The Andersons rail; Shah to retire

Railcar repair and lessor The Andersons announced the retirement of Rail Group executives Rasesh Shah, president, and Vice President of Sales Charles (Chuck) Brown.

Shah’s retirement is effective in July 2018. Joseph McNeely has been named as his replacement.

McNeely will join the company Jan. 8, 2018, and work with Shah during the transition until Shah’s retirement.

“We are very excited to welcome Joe to our leadership team,” said Pat Bowe, Chief Executive and President of The Andersons, based in Muncie, Ind. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience managing through the highly cyclical rail market.”

McNeely most recently served as president and CEO of FreightCar America, Inc., a position he left in July. McNeely also has served in vice president roles at Mitsui Rail Capital and GATX Corp., and brings more than three decades of experience in the financial, manufacturing and distribution industries.

McNeely earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Shah began his career at The Andersons in 1978. He was instrumental in creating the company’s Rail Group in 1989, and developing it into one of the top 10 largest private rail fleets in the U.S. today.

“Rasesh has played a pivotal part in shaping The Andersons’ vision and history,” said Bowe. “We greatly appreciate his years of service and dedication which have helped shape us into the diversified company we are today. We wish him the best on this next phase of his life.”

Brown’s retirement is effective March 31, 2018. He joined the company in 1984 in the central transportation department. In this role, he managed the company’s railcar fleet and worked with the business units on their railcar needs. In the process, he helped expand The Andersons’ internal railcar use into a railcar repair and leasing business that would serve customers across numerous industries.

“Chuck has been incredibly instrumental to our business,” said Shah. “Over the years, he has performed every role from accounting to sales to mechanical repairs, helping to build our rail division. His ingenuity and hard work helped transform The Andersons into the diversified company it is today.”

Brown has held several roles throughout his 33-year career with The Andersons. He has served as Vice President of Sales for more than four years and also served on the executive board of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers and the Owens Community College Foundation Board.