NS names six to senior management

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Norfolk Southern has promoted six in upper management with effective dates of June 1 and July 1.

Wick Moorman, chairman and CEO of Norfolk Southern appointed James Squires as president. Squires currently is executive vice president administration. In his new role, he will be responsible for the corporation’s administration, finance, law and corporate relations and planning and information technology divisions.

Squires joined Norfolk Southern in 1992 and served in several law positions before being named vice president law in 2003, senior vice president law in 2004, senior vice president financial planning in 2006, executive vice president finance in 2007 and executive vice president administration in 2012.

“Jim is a forward-thinking railroader and a well-tested leader,” Moorman said. “As president, he will ensure that Norfolk Southern stays at the forefront of strategic planning, innovation and financial performance.”

Cindy Earhart, currently vice president human resources, will become executive vice president administration.

Earhart joined Norfolk Southern in 1985 as supervisor subsidiary accounting. She served in key accounting and information technology positions before being named vice president human resources in 2007.

“Norfolk Southern’s work force is well-trained, customer-focused and above all, safe. With Cindy in the lead administration role, our customers and owners will continue to enjoy the benefits of that competitive advantage,” Moorman said.

Juan K. Cunningham, currently assistant vice president executive, will become vice president human resources.

Cunningham joined Norfolk Southern in 1973 as a management trainee in engineering. He served in positions of increasing responsibility in human resources before being named assistant vice president human resources in 2010 and to his most recent position in 2012.

Squires, Earhart and Cunningham’s placements are effective as of June 1.

Daniel Smith, senior vice president energy and properties, has elected to retire after 37 years with the company.

Smith was named to his current position in 2003, where he was responsible for coal marketing, real estate and Norfolk Southern’s Pocahontas Land Corporation subsidiary; he started his railroad career in 1976 as a mine inspector.

“As an acknowledged expert in the energy sector and a strong proponent of coal as an energy source, Danny is going to be keenly missed,” Moorman said. “We are losing a true champion.”

David Lawson, currently vice president industrial products, will become vice president coal marketing.

Lawson joined Norfolk Southern in 1988 as a sales representative and served in various capacities in the automotive supply chain group and as president of Modalgistics before becoming vice president industrial products.

Michael McClellan, currently vice president intermodal and automotive marketing, will become vice president industrial products.

McClellan joined Conrail’s general marketing and sales organization in 1985. In 1998, he was named assistant vice president performance planning for Norfolk Southern and became vice president intermodal and automotive marketing in 2000.

Jeffrey Heller, currently group vice president international intermodal, will become vice president intermodal and automotive marketing.

After serving in various sales and marketing positions with container shipping and intermodal firms in the U.S. and abroad, Heller joined Norfolk Southern’s intermodal department in 1994 as a marketing manager and has served as group vice president international intermodal since 2004.

Lawson, McClellan and Heller are all effective as of July 1.

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