NS appoints Merilli VP engineering

As part of a leadership restructuring, Norfolk Southern Corp. named Philip Merilli vice president engineering effective Oct. 1, the company announced Tuesday.

Merilli's department is responsible for the construction, maintenance and inspection of the rail network's tracks, bridges, and signal systems.

Merilli has been assistant vice president maintenance of way and structures since 2013. Before being named to his most recent position, he served in several engineering positions, including track supervisor, division engineer, and chief engineer line maintenance. He joined an NS predecessor line in 1981 as an assistant roadmaster.

In his new position, Merilli will report to Michael Wheeler, who will serve as senior vice president of operations Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, 2016, at which point he assumes his new duties as executive vice president and chief operating officer.