Union Pacific implements new executive management organization

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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Left to right, Beth Whited, Tom Lischer, Kenny Rocker

Union Pacific (UP) has made multiple executive management appointments, which the Class 1 announced Aug. 15.

The appointments include the following and are effective immediately:

  • Beth Whited to executive vice president and chief human resources officer
  • Tom Lischer to executive vice president, Operations
  • Kenny Rocker to executive vice president, Marketing and Sales
  • David Giandinoto to vice president, Harriman Dispatching Center and Network Operations
  • Kari Kirchhoefer to vice president, Industrial

“This new organization positions us to tackle the challenges and opportunities of today and into the future,” said Lance Fritz, UP’s chairman, president and CEO. “Specifically, we must deliver a more consistent and reliable service product for our customers, and we need to further engage employees to unlock new levels of passion and dedication while leveraging our diverse talents.”

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scott announced his retirement, effective Feb. 28. He will serve as a company vice president until that point, UP said.

Whited oversees UP’s Human Resources and Labor Relations functions and will lead the company’s new employee engagement and culture initiatives. She served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer since November 2016.

Whited previously led UP’s Chemicals business for four years, served as 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 Union Pacific Distribution Services. Whited succeeds Sherrye Hutcherson. She joined the railroad in 1987.

Tom Lischer manages the company’s train operations throughout the railroad’s 23 states. He oversees all transportation services including managing and maintaining locomotives, rail cars, tracks, train dispatching and crew calling; as well as Mechanical and Engineering functions.

Lischer most recently led UP’s centralized train dispatching organization since April 2017. He has held many leadership roles within the company’s Operating department including assistant vice president, locomotive distribution and network operations, and positions in all three of UP’s Operating department regions. Lischer joined the company in 1995 and succeeds Scott in his new role.

Kenny Rocker is tasked with managing the company’s four major business units: Agriculture, Energy, Industrial and Premium, including UP’s Mexico business that accounted for about 11 percent of the railroad’s total 2017 volume.

Rocker also oversees the company’s Customer Care and Support team and the Loup Logistics subsidiary. He served as vice president and general manager of UP’s Industrial business since August 2016.

He has held various positions during his railroad career, including assignments in Automotive, the Market Development and Sales Center, and Chemicals, UP said. Rocker joined the railroad in 1994 and now succeeds Whited.

Giandinoto leads the Class 1’s centralized train dispatching organization, keeping trains moving safely and efficiently. He joined UP in 1994 and most recently served as assistant vice president, locomotive distribution and network operations.

Giandinoto has held leadership roles in the Operating as well as Marketing and Sales departments, including assistant vice president of the company’s Northern Region operations, general superintendent at Chicago’s Proviso yard and general manager of UP’s Distribution Services subsidiary. He succeeds Lischer in his new role.

Kirchhoefer is responsible for customers in multiple commodity areas including construction, lumber and paper products, metals and ores, specialized markets, minerals, industrial chemicals, plastics and soda ash. She most recently served as vice president, Customer Care & Support.

Kirchhoefer has held several leadership roles throughout her 26-year career with UP, including vice president and general manager, Chemicals, president of the company’s Streamline subsidiary, and Agricultural Products and Market Development and Sales Center roles, the railroad said. She succeeds Rocker.

“Beth, Tom and Kenny will bring experience, energy and expertise to their important leadership roles, while David and Kari have successful track records and are well prepared to take on even greater levels of responsibility,” Fritz said.

Scott was UP’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since February 2014. He had been vice president, Network Planning and Operations, since 2012 — a role in which the railroad says he was responsible for directing the railroad’s service design and evaluation, transportation planning, network and capital planning, network development and joint facilities activities.

Scott also previously served as vice president of operations for UP’s Western Region. Scott joined the company in 1990.

“I want to offer my sincere thanks to Cameron and Sherrye for their hard work and dedication to Union Pacific,” Fritz said. “Cameron has been a true champion of employee safety, and the company has made great strides because of it, leading the industry each of the past three years. I also wish to convey my appreciation to Sherrye for the commitment and effort she gave during her time at Union Pacific.”

UP’s Network Planning & Operations (NPO) function is also shifting its reporting structure to Lynden Tennison, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, to better align with the railroad’s strategic vision, UP said. NPO previously reported to the chief operating officer and was part of the company’s Operating department.

“The NPO team plays a key role in Union Pacific’s business planning and management processes,” Fritz said. “This shift creates greater opportunities to coordinate between our Operating department, Marketing and Sales, and Finance areas to align and modify our transportation plan with technology as we continue to develop new and innovative ways to serve our customers.”

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