BREAKING NEWS: Former KCS CEO Ottensmeyer dies

Canadian Pacific Kansas City today announced the passing of former Kansas City Southern President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer. He was 67.

Ottensmeyer served as the final president and CEO of Kansas City Southern from 2015 until April 14, 2023, upon the completion of the merger between Canadian Pacific and KCS that created CPKC.

“Pat's vision and leadership played a monumental role in the great history of Kansas City Southern as he helped reshape the railway industry," said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel in a press release. “We have lost a remarkable leader and a cherished friend.”

Ottensmeyer’s legacy lives on at CPKC, he said.

“His contributions as a railroader and as a person will never be forgotten,” said Creel. “We mourn his tragic passing and extend our deepest condolences to his fiancée Deanne, his entire family, many friends and former colleagues.”

From 2008 to 2015, Ottensmeyer was executive vice president of sales and marketing at KCS and served as EVP and chief financial officer at the railroad from 2006 to 2008.

Ottensmeyer also served as the U.S. chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Mexico Economic Council from 2019 to 2023. In his role as leader of the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, he was instrumental in representing business interests during the formation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement from 2017-2020.

In 2023, Ottensmeyer received the North American Rail Shippers Association Edward R. Hamberger Lifetime Achievement Award. And In 2019, Progressive Railroading and RailTrends^® recognized Ottensmeyer with the Railroad Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual's outstanding achievement in the rail industry.

In honor of Ottensmeyer, CPKC will lower flags to half-staff across the Class I's network, company officials said.