CSX overhauls operating management, announces new appointments

CSX Corp. today announced a new operating management structure that will decentralize operational and support functions.

The changes — a continuation of the Class I's transition to scheduled railroading — are designed to "enhance safety, improve service, accelerate decision-making and drive operating efficiency," CSX officials announced in a press release.

"This is a proven model that pushes decision making closer to the day-to-day field operations and eliminates bureaucracy and long-standing silos within our business," said President and Chief Executive Officer James Foote. "This new structure highlights the strength of CSX's extremely talented operating leadership team, and will enable the company to continue driving performance improvements in a more effective and efficient way."

As part of the new structure, CSX made the following leadership appointments, all of whom will report to Executive Vice President of Operations Ed Harris:

• Bob Frulla becomes senior VP of operations East. Most recently, Frulla was SVP of network operations.
• Jermaine Swafford becomes SVP of operations West. Most recently, he was SVP and chief transportation officer.
• Jamie Boychuk becomes SVP of network operations. Previously, he was VP of precision scheduled railroading implementation and intermodal operations.
• Amy Rice becomes VP of intermodal operations. Rice most recently served as VP of strategic planning.

The operating management structure changes will include:
• creation of an East and West structure, with leaders responsible for the three major operations functions: transportation, mechanical and engineering;
• embedding support functions — human resources, labor relations, claims and finance employees — in the day-to-day field operations of the railroad;
• oversight of safety programs, policies and practices will fall under the leadership of VP and Chief Safety Officer Jim Schwichtenberg, with resources also embedded in the field;
• network-focused functions — including service design, dispatching, crew management, positive train control and locomotive and car management — will remain centralized; and
• system engineering and mechanical — including locomotive shops, capital projects, back shop maintenance, communications and signals, design and construction, and regulatory compliance — will fall under Brian Barr, SVP, engineering and mechanical.

"We are making a fundamental shift from a headquarters-centric organization to one in which all functions are aligned with our core mission to provide the industry’s best transportation product for our customers," Foote said.