CSX assigns Cory to top operating post, Boone to top commercial position

CSX today announced the appointment of Mike Cory as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Jamie Boychuk, who left the company last month.

Cory has more than 40 years of rail operations experience. He most recently was EVP and COO for CN. Cory retired from that post in 2019 and since has provided transportation consulting services.

In 2006, he began his ascent at CN via a series of senior leadership roles, including VP of network operations, senior VP of the Eastern Region and SVP for the Western Region. He became CN’s EVP and COO in 2016.

Cory began his railroad career in 1981 as a laborer in a CN locomotive shop in Winnipeg, Canada. Over the years, he rose through the ranks as a superintendent, general superintendent, director of service design, network operations superintendent and general manager of operations for the Michigan sub-region. He also held various customer service and marketing positions.

“Mike Cory is one of the rail industry’s leading operations executives, respected for his wealth of operations knowledge and his success as a leader who understands the customers we serve and has a deep appreciation for the employees who provide that service,” said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs in a press release. “Mike’s reputation as a career railroader, devoted to process improvement, team building and employee development within the principles of scheduled railroading will help CSX continue to achieve new levels of safety, service and operating efficiency.”

CSX also announced that EVP of Sales and Marketing Kevin Boone now will serve as EVP and chief commercial officer. Boone — who joined CSX in 2017 — previously led the company’s finance organization before transitioning to sales and marketing in 2021.

“The new title recognizes Boone’s breadth of existing responsibilities across [our] broad customer base and growing offering of supply-chain solutions,” CSX officials said.