CN announces executive team changes

CN today announced Rob Reilly will become executive vice president and chief operating officer effective July 1, and Michael Foster will be promoted to EVP and chief information and technology officer as of June 3.

Reilly has 30 years of experience in the rail industry, starting in 1989 when he joined the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Co., now known as BNSF Railway Co. His industry experience includes a succession of increasingly senior positions in markets across the United States, most notably in Chicago and on the West Coast.

Foster joined CN from FedEx Corp. in March 2018 as senior vice president and chief information and technology officer. He has led the deployment of new technologies to enhance the safety of CN's operations and efficiency of supply chain services, while delivering on technological advances such as positive train control, automated track and train inspections, as well as mobile devices for frontline railroaders.

"CN pioneered scheduled railroading and our vision is to be the first railroad to take it to the next level, using advanced information technology. These appointments [of Reilly and Foster] are part of our strategy to enhance our scheduled railroading model," said CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest in a press release.

As part of the executive team changes, Mike Cory will retire as EVP and COO on June 30. He will remain available to CN to ensure a smooth transition, CN officials said.

“Mike Cory had a tremendous 38-year career at CN. His unwavering commitment brought CN’s operational excellence to a new level. On behalf of the CN board, his colleagues and CN’s 27,000 railroaders, I would like to thank him for his 24/7 dedication to our company. I wish him the very best in his retirement,” Ruest said.

For more information on CN and its 100-year history, read this month's cover story in Progressive Railroading.