Wick Moorman to take helm of Amtrak

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Charles "Wick" Moorman, retired chairman, CEO and president of Norfolk Southern will take the lead of Amtrak beginning Sept. 1.

 

Current Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman announced his retirement in December 2015. Moorman completed his service as executive chairman of the board of directors of Norfolk Southern on Oct. 1, 2015, and continued to serve as a director until retiring from the board on Dec. 31, 2015.

Both men have also been named Railroader of the Year by Railway Age; Boardman in 2014 and Moorman in 2011 while leading Norfolk Southern.

Anthony Coscia, chairman of the Board of Directors of Amtrak said, “We are very pleased that someone with Wick’s experience and vision will lead Amtrak during this critical period as the company charts a course for future growth and improvement. Under CEO Joe Boardman, and with the support of the administration and Congress, Amtrak has achieved record levels of performance and investment. The board believes Wick can build upon this success in the coming year by launching initiatives to further enhance safety and customer service, modernize our operations and guide our implementation of the [Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST)] Act.”

“It is an honor and privilege to take on the role of CEO at Amtrak and I look forward to working with its dedicated employees to find ways to provide even better service to our passengers and the nation,” said Moorman. “At Norfolk Southern, our team fostered change by placing a solid emphasis on performance across all aspects of our business which helped develop a stronger safety and service culture throughout the company. I look forward to advancing those same goals at Amtrak and helping to build a plan for future growth.”

Moorman, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., comes to Amtrak after more than 40 years at NS, where he rose from management trainee to CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors. Having worked with NS from the ground up, Moorman gained an appreciation for the many facets of railroad operations and used this knowledge to modernize the way NS conducted business, served customers and worked with communities. A graduate of Georgia Tech and Harvard Business School, Moorman serves on the boards of Duke Energy Corporation, Chevron Corporation, the Virginia chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Georgia Tech Foundation.

“Wick’s deep operational background and track record of building teams and driving innovation is exactly what we need to provide unparalleled service to the more than 500 communities we serve,” said Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Jeffrey Moreland. “We are confident that, working together with the board, Wick can formulate a strong plan to take Amtrak to the next level and assemble the management team and expertise to carry it forward.”

Boardman, who led Amtrak for the past eight years said, “I look forward to spending time with my family and wish Wick all the best as he brings his excellent experience to Amtrak.”

“The Board and I thank Joe for his dedicated service to Amtrak and its customers and for his long career in public service. Under his leadership, Amtrak delivered record ridership, introduced a series of safety initiatives and modernized its fleet. For this, he should be proud,” Coscia said.

Moorman currently holds securities of a rail carrier. Amtrak will ensure that any conflict will be avoided as is required by federal law.

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger issued a statement that read:

“Wick Moorman is a proven railroader whose track record of success demonstrates his commitment and adherence to rail safety, efficiency and service to customers. His contributions and leadership in the freight rail industry, I believe, will advance the working partnership the freight railroads have with Amtrak.

“The AAR and its freight rail members recognize the importance of Amtrak as a reliable U.S. passenger rail service and look forward to working with Wick in his new capacity.

“Joe recognized the delicate balance that exists in this country between freight rail and passenger rail and was a partner in forging new ways to find that right transportation mix. Joe’s steadfast commitment to positively advancing the role of Amtrak and raising the profile of passenger rail in the United States has left an enduring record of achievement.”

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