NS promotes three to VP roles, names chief sustainability officer

Norfolk Southern Corp. yesterday announced promotions of three leaders to vice president and the appointment of a chief sustainability officer.

NS appointed Greg Comstock, former general manager of the railroad’s network operations center and general manager of the southern region, to VP of network operations; Lorri Kleine, former senior general counsel of workforce, properties and insurance risk management, to VP of law; and Patrick Whitehead, former assistant VP of mechanical and general manager of the northern region, to VP of transportation.

“These leaders have made important contributions to the company, and I am pleased to announce their well-deserved promotions,” said NS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires in a press release. "Greg and Pat have played significant roles in our ongoing and successful implementation of precision scheduled railroading, and Lorri is a Norfolk Southern leader with extensive legal and external strategic governance experience."

Comstock and Whitehead have more than 60 years of collective transportation, network and operations experience with NS. In their new roles, they will execute NS’s operating plan and achieve additional efficiencies across the railroad.

Comstock oversees NS's network operations center, which includes centralized dispatching as well as related service and support functions. Whitehead now manages transportation field operations, including the execution of TOP21, the railroad’s precision scheduled railroading operating plan.

Kleine has been a member of the NS law team since 1994. In her new role, she will oversee legal, claims, investigative, compliance and risk management matters for the department.

NS also appointed Josh Raglin, former general manager of facilities, to chief sustainability officer. Previously, he led nine of the company's forest conservation and sustainability projects. Now, he will be responsible for integrating sustainability practices into daily operations to achieve efficiencies, control costs, generate revenue and reduce the company's impact on the environment.

"Josh’s experience and knowledge will be invaluable as we work to fulfill our commitment to environmental, social and governance practices that positively impact the environment, while simultaneously supporting the growth and evolution of our company," Squires said.