CN taps rail veteran Harris as EVP, COO

CN yesterday announced that rail industry veteran Ed Harris has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Harris succeeds Rob Reilly, effective immediately, CN officials said in a press release.

Since April, Harris has worked with the CN operations leadership team on the company's operational and service excellence initiatives, as the team delivered rail operations performance and customer service improvements.

"We are very pleased to be able to leverage Ed's experience and capabilities as we continue to improve the delivery of safe and reliable freight transportation services to our customers," said CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson. "CN has made strides in improving our operational performance this year, and our team is ready and committed to take that performance to the next level."

Harris will provide the experience needed to advance to the next phase of CN's operating plan, Robinson said.

"Ed’s guidance and mentorship will also be key assets as we transition to the next generation of operations leaders at CN and position ourselves for the future," she added.

Harris has been one of the industry's top executives, with a rail operations career that spans 40 years. He spent more than 30 years at Illinois Central Railroad and CN, and was EVP of operations when he left the company in 2007.

Prior to joining CN as a consultant earlier this year, Harris served as EVP of operations at CSX from 2018 until August 2020, when he announced his retirement. His prior executive experience also includes service as COO of Canadian Pacific from 2010 to 2012.

Reilly joined CN in 2019 and led the operating team through the global pandemic and supply chain challenges, CN officials said.