Union Pacific promotes Butler, Whited; elects Hopkins to the board

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday appointed Eric Butler executive vice president and chief administrative officer, and Beth Whited executive VP and chief marketing officer. The Class I also announced Deborah Chase Hopkins has been elected to UP's board.

Butler will be responsible for strategic planning, human resources, labor relations and general administration. Whited, who will succeed Butler in his former position, will be responsible for six major business units: agricultural products, automotive, chemicals, coal, industrial products and intermodal.

Butler will succeed UP executive Diane Duren, who announced she will retire in February 2017 after 32 years of service. Until her retirement, Duren will serve as senior VP and corporate secretary.

Butler has served as EVP and CMO since March 2012. He previously served as VP and general manager of industrial products since 2005, after serving two years as VP and GM of automotive. Since joining the railroad in 1986, Butler has held several positions including VP of supply and VP of planning.

Whited, who joined UP in 1987, has led the Class I's chemicals business since October 2012. She previously was VP of UP's National Customer Service Center and held executive roles in strategic planning, investor relations, finance and marketing and sales. She also was president of UP Distribution Services.

UP also announced it has named Kari Kirchhoefer VP and GM of chemicals, succeeding Whited.

All the appointments are effective Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, UP's board elected Hopkins to serve on the board starting Jan. 1. She is the founder and CEO of Citi Ventures and Citi's chief innovation officer.