Rail supplier news from Harsco, Cubic, TranSystems, NRC, Hanson and TMSA (Aug. 4)

Harsco Corp. has completed its previously announced executive leadership change with the appointment of F. Nicholas Grasberger as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Grasberger succeeds David Everitt, who has served as interim CEO since Feb. 28. Everitt will continue to serve as a board member and has been elected to succeed Henry Knueppel as non-executive chairman. Knueppel will continue to serve on the board as an independent director. Grasberger joined Harsco in April 2013 as senior vice president and chief financial officer and was appointed president and chief operating officer on April 8. The company is continuing its search for a permanent CFO.

Transport for London has confirmed the award of its ticketing and fare collection contract, starting in August 2015, to Cubic Corp. subsidiary Cubic Transportation Systems Ltd. following a competitive tender. Contract terms (denoted in pounds sterling) are for seven years with a value of more than $700 million. The agreement includes an option to extend the contract for three more years, increasing the contract's value to more than $1 billion.

TranSystems is ranked the nation’s 10th largest bridge firm according to ENR's Top Design Firms Sourcebook for 2014. TranSystems' bridge practice placed 10th place in 2012, as well. Notable projects that contributed to TranSystems’ ranking include: the Garden State Parkway’s bridge deck reconstruction project, CSX Corp.'s National Gateway Initiative, the Columbus Road Lift Bridge replacement in Cleveland, rehabilitation of the historic High Bridge project in New York City and the reconstruction of the Eads Bridge in St. Louis.

Christian Jostlein, safety manager at Holland L.P., has been appointed chairman of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc. (NRC) Safety Committee. He succeeds outgoing Chair Tammy Mathews. The committee oversees the Safety Training DVD program, NRC's participation in the Federal Railroad Administration's RSAC process, the Contractor Safety Award contest, the NRC Roadway Worker Protection training materials, the Pocket Safety Manual, Tool Box Talks and other NRC safety programs.

Railroad designer Jonathan Mueller has joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.'s Seattle regional office. His responsibilities will include spatial data collection and analysis, site design and using geographic information system data and software for railway and telecommunications infrastructure projects. Previously, Mueller was an intern at the office. Prior to his internship, he worked on product development for 3M Co. in Minnesota.

The Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA) has named Brian Everett chief executive officer. He previously was executive director of the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council. Other staff changes include Carleen Herndon, who was named director of sales and member experience; and Karen Everett, who was appointed director of operations and administration. Also, TMSA officials announced plans to move the association's headquarters to Minneapolis and retain the services of MindShare Strategies, a marketing and management firm specializing in transportation and logistics, as its association management company.