NS announces promotions, retirements

Norfolk Southern Corp. yesterday named six people who will begin serving new positions and duties in the coming months.

The appointments reflect the "deep strength and versatility" of the company's management team, said NS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires in a press release.

"Our owners, customers, and communities can have every confidence that their interests always will be first and foremost with these experienced railroad leaders," he said.

Effective Feb. 1:
• Thomas Werner will become vice president corporate communications and chief sustainability officer in Norfolk, Va. Currently, he is vice president and treasurer. Werner joined NS in 1999 as director of IT program management. He served in positions of increasing responsibility in the IT department before being named vice president of IT in 2007.
• C.H. "Jake" Allison Jr. will become vice president and treasurer in Norfolk. He has been vice president audit and compliance since 2013. Allison joined NS in 1993 as manager audits. He served in audit and compliance, sourcing and accounting positions before being named vice president and controller in 2009.
• Susan Stuart will assume the role of vice president audit and compliance in Atlanta. She joined NS in 1985 as an IT developer. She served in IT and accounting positions until being named to her current position as vice president accounting operations in 2008.
• Bruno Maestri will become vice president government relations in Washington, D.C. He has been vice president government relations, corporate communications and corporate sustainability officer since 2015. Maestri joined NS in 1995 and served in environmental management and protection, and then public affairs, before being named vice president government relations and corporate communications in 2005.

Effective March 1:
• Jerry Hall will become vice president mechanical in Atlanta. Hall joined NS in 1985 as a management trainee. He served in a range of transportation positions before being named vice president intermodal operations in 2013, and vice president network and service management, his most recent position, also in 2013.
• Karol Lawrence will become vice president network and service management. She joined NS in 2001 as director program management office. Lawrence served in planning and technology and strategic planning positions before being named assistant vice president information technology, her most recent position, in 2006.

Also yesterday, Squires announced two retirements: Donald Graab, vice president mechanical in Atlanta; and Frank Brown, assistant vice president corporate communications.

Graab served the company 39 years, while Brown served for 38 years.