Norfolk Southern Appoints New Chief Operating Officer
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Image courtesy of Norfolk Southern
ATLANTA –– Norfolk Southern has appointed Brian Barr Chief Operating Officer.
Barr assumed his new role this week, which was effective Monday, June 1. He replaces John Orr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who decided to step down. Orr will remain through June 30, 2026 to serve as a special advisor to the Chair of the Board, and his employment will terminate then. Orr will retire from the company on July 1, 2026. After his retirement, Orr will serve as a special advisor to the Chair of the Board through the close of the merger or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
Mark George, NS CEO, said “Brian is the right leader for Operations, bringing a strong commitment to safety, broad railroading expertise and a proven ability to build a fast, resilient network that earns customer trust every day. Brian’s career has given him a front row seat to every aspect of the operation and a deep understanding of the complexities of an eastern rail network. This gives him a unique vantage point to help take us to the next level to serve our customer demands.” Barr has been with Norfolk Southern for two years, leading the railroad’s mechanical department. Brian Barr, pictured left (Courtesy Norfolk Southern)
Barr enjoyed a nearly 25-year career with CSX, holding leadership roles of increasing responsibility including terminal superintendent, Senior Vice President Network Planning & Services, Senior Vice President Operations, Chief Mechanical Officer and Senior Vice President Engineering and Mechanical. Barr spent time at Union Pacific, where he was Senior Vice President Transportation, and also held the position of General Manager Great Lakes Services. Barr began his career in 1998 as a craft dispatcher at Conrail.
Regarding John Orr’s departure, George said “We are grateful to John for his leadership and many contributions to our operations, including a clear focus on safety, and disciplined cost efficiency and advancing operational excellence. NS is better today because of John’s impactful nature.”
For his part, Orr said “I’m proud of the Thoroughbred team and the tremendous improvements we’ve made in our operations over the past two years. Building generational railroaders has been a hallmark of my approach, and with the progress we made transforming NS, now is the perfect time for me to plan the next steps in life and to elevate the next generation of leaders to propel NS forward.”
