UP names Ferguson EVP, chief legal officer; Reading & Northern promotes Ludwig

Union Pacific Railroad has hired Rhonda Ferguson to serve as executive vice president and chief legal officer starting July 11.

Ferguson joins UP from FirstEnergy Corp. in Akron, Ohio, where she was VP, corporate secretary and chief ethics officer since 2007.

"Rhonda brings a wealth of experience and expertise covering a variety of complex business and legal matters for a large company with a multi-state geographic footprint," said UP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Fritz in a press release.

In addition to leading FirstEnergy's corporate, real estate and records and information departments, Ferguson led the company's corporate compliance and ethics program. She was responsible for corporate governance; New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission-compliance; information governance, data protection and privacy; and construction, real estate and transmission rights.

Prior to working for FirstEnergy, Ferguson served as assistant general counsel and assistant corporate secretary at Ferro Corp. in Cleveland. She also was a partner at Baker Hostetler LLP and a litigation associate at Thompson Hine LLP, both in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Reading & Northern Railroad has promoted Susan Ludwig to assistant vice president of customer service. In her new post, she'll oversee the customer service department and its focus on issues related to the short line's merchandise business, according to a Reading & Northern press release.

Ludwig previously was director of customer service, a position she's held since 2013. She also has been the primary account representative for plastics and chemicals.

"Reading & Northern is growing quickly and as a result we decided it was the time to have a full-time AVP dedicated to customer service," said President Wayne Michel. "Taking care of our customers is the key to our success."

Last year, the Port Clinton, Pa.-based short line's traffic grew by 19 percent. Traffic volumes are up so far this year, as well, he said.

"This unprecedented growth in a soft economy is not an accident," Michel said. "It takes a commitment to customer service and in promoting Susan to this new position we are taking another step to ensure our customers remain satisfied."