Union Pacific makes executive appointments, names new members to Board

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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Union Pacific

Union Pacific (UP) has appointed Eric Butler executive vice president and chief administrative officer and Beth Whited to executive vice president and chief marketing officer.  

 

Butler will be responsible for strategic planning, human resources, labor relations and general administration. Whited, succeeding Butler, will manage UP’s six major business units: agricultural products, automotive, chemicals, coal, industrial products and intermodal. Butler follows long-time UP executive Diane Duren, who announced she will retire in February after 32 years with the company. Duren says she will continue to serve as senior vice president and corporate secretary until February.

UP also named Kari Kirchhoefer vice president and general manager chemicals, succeeding Whited. The appointments are all effective Dec. 1. 

Butler has served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer since March 2012. He had previously been vice president and general manager industrial products since 2005 and served for two years as vice president and general manager automotive prior to that.

Butler joined the railroad in 1986 and has held several positions with the company, including vice president supply and vice president planning and analysis.

Whited has led UP’s chemicals business since October 2012. She was previously vice president of the company’s National Customer Service Center and held a variety of executive roles in strategic planning, investor relations, finance and marketing and sales, including president of subsidiary UP Distribution Services. Whited joined the company in 1987.

Kirchhoefer has been assistant vice president industrial products since December 2015. During her 24 years with UP, Kirchhoefer served as president of the company’s Streamline subsidiary in addition to marketing and sales positions in agricultural products and the Market Development Sales Center.

Duren joined UP in 1985 and held a variety of positions in finance and marketing and sales. She became the first woman to lead one of UP’s multi-billion dollar business units, first as vice president and general manager agricultural products and then as vice president and general manager chemicals. Duren earned honors from many organizations including the Women’s Center for Advancement as a Tribute to Women honoree; Profiles in Diversity Journal as a “woman worth watching,” and Pink magazine as one of the top 15 women in business.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert appointed Duren to the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority Board of Directors in 2014, and currently is the organization’s Chairwoman. She also serves as vice chair of the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center board.

“Diane has made innumerable and significant contributions to UP’s success,” said Lance Fritz, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Diane was a pioneer who blazed a trail for many, including in her most recent role where she served as chief strategy officer and led UP’s talent management initiatives. Her business acumen, combined with a real passion for developing talent, was invaluable. UP is a better company today than it was when she started. We are grateful for Diane’s contributions and appreciate her support during this transition period.”

Union Pacific Corporation also announced Nov. 17 that Deborah Chase Hopkins has been selected to serve the company’s board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Hopkins, 62, is the founder and CEO of Citi Ventures and Citi’s chief innovation officer. Hopkins has experience in the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications and information technology industries. She plans to retire from Citi at the end of 2016.

“Debby brings an entrepreneurial mindset, relevant multi-industry experience and excellent leadership attributes to our board,” said Lance Fritz, UP chairman, president and CEO. “We are delighted she has agreed to join our board of directors.” 

Hopkins joined Citi in New York in 2003 as head of corporate strategy. She was later appointed as chief operations and technology officer. She also co-founded Citi Women and played a key role in developing programs for high potential women at Citi. Before joining Citi, Hopkins served as CFO at Boeing and then Lucent Technologies; was general auditor of General Motors before being named vice president of finance at GM Europe and was corporate controller at Unisys. Hopkins began her career at Ford Motor Company. 

She previously served five years on the board of DuPont and nearly six years on the board of Qlik Technologies before it was taken private in August 2016. She serves on the advisory boards of Riverwood Capital and Stanford Technology Ventures Program, and is an executive fellow at the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. 

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