UP assigns Kelley, O'Connor to new VP posts

Union Pacific Railroad has named D. Lynn Kelley vice president of supply and continuous improvement and Joseph O'Connor, VP of labor relations. Both appointments take effect Feb. 1.

Currently VP of continuous improvement, Kelley will assume the added responsibility of UP's supply organization. She will be responsible for purchasing, strategic sourcing and industrial engineering activities.

Kelley joined UP in 2011 from Textron, where she was VP of operational excellence. Prior to joining Textron, she was a professor at the Madonna University School of Business and chief operating officer at Doctor's Hospital in Detroit.

VP of purchasing since 2003, O'Connor will succeed William "Rick" Turner, who plans to retire as VP of labor relations in March after a 32-year UP career. O'Connor will be responsible for negotiating labor agreements and managing day-to-day relationships with union-represented employees.

He joined UP in 1987 as a capital planning analyst in the finance organization, and since has held several other finance and network design/integration posts.

"Lynn and Joe have proven themselves as effective leaders at Union Pacific, and I am pleased that they have agreed to take on these important roles for our company," said UP President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Koraleski in a press release.