CN names marketing executives
The Canadian National Railway on Tuesday revamped its marketing team, part of a larger leadership transition that began when Claude Mongeau succeeded E. Hunter Harrison as president and chief executive officer at the beginning of the year.
Jean-Jacques Ruest, the new executive vice president and chief marketing officer, announced that six new senior officers would report to him. They are:
' Paul Waite, vice president of intermodal. Waite, based in Toronto, will oversee domestic and international intermodal services. He played a key role developing CN’s IMX (Intermodal Excellence) model that features scheduled service.
' Vee Kachroo, vice president of industrial products. Kachroo, based in Montreal, has extensive experience in forest products and metals and minerals markets and was most recently assistant vice-president, sales, for these two groups at CN.
' James Cairns, vice president of petroleum and chemicals. Cairns, based in Calgary, was assistant vice president of CN domestic intermodal and ground transportation, and previously spent three years working as director of marketing for CN’s petroleum and chemicals unit.
' Andy Gonta, vice president of bulk. Gonta, based in Edmonton along side the company’s network operations center, will be responsible for CN’s grain, fertilizers, sulphur and coal businesses. He headed automotive sales and marketing prior to undertaking the CN Railroad MBA program to enhance his railroading skills and has since held a number of senior positions in operations since completing the program in 2005.
' Keith Reardon, vice president of supply chain solutions. Reardon, based in Chicago, will be responsible for CN’s non-rail transportation activities in transloading, freight-forwarding, warehousing, vessels, docks and a small group of supply chain experts serving all business units, as well as marketing activities for the company’s automotive business.
' Doug MacDonald, vice president of corporate marketing. MacDonald, based in Montreal, will oversee marketing planning, e-business innovations and strategic account planning activities. He will also lead the regional sales groups that focus on the growth of small accounts.
CN also announced that Stan Jablonski, most recently senior vice president of sales, has agreed to serve as senior advisor to the company through the organizational transition of the marketing group.
Mongeau three weeks ago announced his new executive team. He promoted Keith Creel from vice president of operations to executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Ruest from senior vice president of marketing.
The executive suite also includes Chief Financial Officer Luc Jobin, who added information technology to his portfolio of responsibilities. Sean Finn, executive vice president for corporate services and chief legal officer has also taken over the government and public affairs roles.
Kim Madigan was named vice president of human resources, and will also be in charge of labor relations.
Other members of the management team are Robert Noorigian, CN's vice president of investor relations; and Gordon Trafton, previously senior vice president for strategic acquisitions and integration, who was appointed as special advisor until he retires at the end of 2010.
CN also announced the appointments of Jeff Liepelt, previously vice president, eastern region, to senior vice president, eastern region, reporting to Creel; and Karen Phillips, previously CN’s vice president of North American government affairs, vice president, public and government affairs, reporting to Finn.