SWIENTON SUCCEEDS BURNS AS RYDER SYSTEM CHAIRMAN

SWIENTON SUCCEEDS BURNS AS RYDER SYSTEM CHAIRMAN    Gregory T. Swienton, president and chief executive officer of Ryder System Inc. since November 2000, will become chairman of the Miami-based logistics company, effective May 3.
   Swienton succeeds M. Anthony 'Tony' Burns, who will retire after serving as the company's chairman since May 1985.
   Swienton joined Ryder as president and chief operating officer in June 1999, from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., where he was senior vice president-growth initiatives.
   Burns joined Ryder's finance organization in 1974 and by the end of the decade was elected president and chief operating officer. He was later named CEO in January 1983 and chairman in 1985.
   Swienton assumed responsibilities as president in 1999 and CEO in late 2000. Besides his career with BNSF and the former Burlington Northern Railroad, he served more than six years with DHL Worldwide Network in Europe, and as vice president and general manager of DHL Airways in the United States.