People in the News

Freight-road rosters

• Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. promoted Alfredo Casar to executive president (he’d served as president and CEO since 1999), and Rogelio Vélez to general director; and named Terry McDermott VP-sales and marketing; and Fernando López Guerra, director of sales in grains, automotive and intermodal.
• Kansas City Southern named Michael Upchurch SVP-financial management and purchasing; Brian Bowers, SVP-intermodal and automotive; David Ebbrecht, VP transportation; Jeff Crandall, VP engineering; and Mitchell Whitmire, GM locomotive operations.

In transit

• MTA Metro-North Railroad President Peter Cannito will retire in July after serving nine years in the post.
• Sacramento Regional Transit District named Michael Wiley GM and CEO, a position he’s held on an acting basis since October 2007.

Association ranks

• The Association of American Railroads named John Gray VP of policy and economics to succeed Craig Rockey, who retired after serving the association for 30 years.

Finance/leasing

• AIG Rail Services Inc. named Mark Burns VP, rail car leasing.

Supply side

• Diversified Metal Fabricators named Danielle Brooks president to succeed Doug Davis, who will continue to serve as CEO.
• RAIL.ONE Group named Tilo Brandis president and CEO to succeed Hans Bachmann, who will continue to serve the company as an external consultant. The firm also named Richard Ziegler EVP and COO.

Award

• The Pittsburgh Technology Council named Union Switch & Signal Inc.’s Stacey Fedorka the “2008 Chief Information Officer of the Year” in the Enterprise category.