KCS reorganizes upper management in operations department

Kansas City Southern yesterday announced several organizational changes within Kansas City Southern Railway Co.'s (KCSR) operations department.

The Class I promoted Mike Naatz from senior vice president and chief information officer to SVP of operations support and chief information officer. He reports to KCS President and Chief Executive Officer David Starling.

The following four executives now will report to Naatz: VP of Network Design Greg Walling; VP of Mechanical Operations Gary Jarboe; VP of Information Technology Wayne Godlewski; and Director of Process Improvement Matt Bommarito.

Naatz, who joined KCSR in 2012, has 20 years of transportation experience. He previously served as president of YRCW subsidiary USF Holland, and chief customer officer and chief information and service officer for YRCW, and held various other IT and operations leadership posts at YRCW and USF.

KCS also promoted Jeff Songer from VP and chief engineer to SVP of engineering and chief transportation officer. In addition to his engineering department direct reports, VP of Transportation and Safety Steve Truitt and Assistant VP of Network Operations Mike Curry now will report to Songer.

A 12-year veteran of the construction and finance industries, Songer joined KCS in 2005 and was promoted to VP and chief engineer in 2012.

KCS also announced that Steve Truitt’s position has changed from VP of safety training and standards to VP of transportation and safety. In addition to his safety and training department direct reports, AVPs Chad Devenney of the Midwest Division, Rick Pennington of the Southeast Division and Richard Bartoskewitz of the Southwest Division will report to Truitt, who joined KCSR in 2011 after holding various operations positions for 31 years at CSX Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad.

Two other managers will relocate from Truitt’s department to the administration and corporate affairs department: AVP and Chief of Police Al Rawls and Public Safety Director Danny Lites, both of whom will continue to report to Executive VP of Administration and Corporate Affairs Warren Erdman. Director of Environmental and Hazmat Carl Akins also will move to Truitt's department, but now will report to AVP of Facilities and Heritage Operations Doug Banks.