Leading Executives in Railroads
Justin Broyles
President & Chief Executive Officer, R. J. Corman Railroad Group
Appointed CEO in August 2025 after serving as Interim CEO, he now leads one of the largest U.S. rail-service and short-line platforms spanning 23 states. Previously EVP, Commercial Affairs, and Chair of STB’s RSTAC.
Brandy D. Christian
Chief Executive Officer, Patriot Rail Company
Former Port of New Orleans and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad chief, she took the helm of Patriot Rail in 2024 to accelerate growth across 30+ short lines and logistics assets.
Keith Creel
President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
Led the CP–KCS combination to form CPKC, the first single-line railway connecting Canada–U.S.–Mexico with ~20,000 route miles, and continues to drive cross‑border growth.
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma
Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group)
Engineer-executive steering Italy’s state rail group as CEO & GM, overseeing RFI, Trenitalia and the country’s high‑speed and regional rail portfolio.
Jean‑Pierre Farandou
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, SNCF (France)
Career rail leader running France’s national rail group since 2019, with previous leadership at Keolis and oversight of TGV, TER and logistics arms.
Kathryn “Katie” Farmer
President & Chief Executive Officer, BNSF Railway
First woman to lead a Class I railroad (since Jan 2021), recognized for industry leadership and operational performance at Berkshire Hathaway–owned BNSF.
Mark R. George
President & Chief Executive Officer, Norfolk Southern
Promoted from CFO to CEO in September 2024 to stabilize performance and advance operations; now leads NS amid industry consolidation pressure.
Fernando López Guerra
Chief Executive Officer, GMéxico Transportes (GMXT)
Leads Mexico’s largest rail operator (including Ferromex and FEC) as CEO, guiding cross‑border freight corridors integral to North American supply chains.
Sir Andrew Haines
Chief Executive, Network Rail (UK)
Chief Executive since 2018 and retiring October 2025; key architect of reforms paving the way for Great British Railways and a passenger‑first operating model.
Roger Harris
President (CEO role currently vacant), Amtrak (U.S.)
President leading day‑to‑day operations; serving as Amtrak’s top executive following the CEO vacancy announced March 19, 2025.
Joe Hinrichs
President & Chief Executive Officer, CSX
Automotive-veteran turned rail chief who became CSX CEO in 2022; honored as Railway Age’s 2025 Railroader of the Year for service and culture gains.
Yoichi Kise
President & Chief Executive Officer, East Japan Railway (JR East)
Became President & CEO on April 1, 2024; steering JR East’s “Move UP 2027” strategy integrating transportation, lifestyle services and IT/Suica.
Richard Lutz
Chief Executive Officer (outgoing), Deutsche Bahn
Longtime DB leader and CEO since 2017; agreed in August 2025 to an early departure and remains in post until a successor is appointed.
Michael Miller
Chief Executive Officer, Genesee & Wyoming (North America)
Elevated to CEO in Sept. 2023 after serving as President, he leads 100+ short lines across 43 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.
Shunsuke Niwa
President, Central Japan Railway (JR Central)
Veteran executive overseeing JR Central’s operations, including the Tokaidō Shinkansen—Japan’s busiest high‑speed rail corridor.
Michael (Mike) Reininger
Chief Executive Officer, Brightline Holdings
Architect of the only private U.S. intercity passenger rail system; leading Florida expansion and the Brightline West high‑speed project to Las Vegas.
Tracy A. Robinson
President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian National Railway (CN)
First woman CEO of a Canadian railway (since Feb 2022), driving network reliability and service across CN’s 20,000‑mile transcontinental network.
Colby Tanner
Chief Executive Officer, OmniTRAX (The Broe Group)
Named CEO effective April 15, 2025, after a long Class I career at BNSF; overseeing a major growth program across North American short lines.
Jim Vena
Chief Executive Officer, Union Pacific
Returned to UP as CEO in August 2023 to drive operating excellence; in 2025 announced a proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern, signaling a new consolidation phase.
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