Schneider National names Mark Rourke as successor to CEO Chris Lofgren

Incoming CEO Rourke brings experience in driver training, account management and truckload services.

Schneider National (NYSE: SNDR) said president and chief executive Chris Lofgren will retire next April, with executive vice president and chief operating officer Mark Rourke to step into the role.

Lofgren, 59, served as president and CEO since August 2002. He joined the company in 1994 as vice president of engineering and systems, and served as chief information officer and chief operating officer. Last year, Lofgren received total compensation of $9.3 million.

Lofgren presided over a period that saw Schneider transform from a family-led organization to a publicly traded company with an initial public offering in April 2017.

He also oversaw the company’s entrance into the final mile market with the 2016 acquisitions of Watkins and Shepard Trucking and Lodeso, and the introduction of the company’s Quest quote-to-cash platform.

“I want to thank Chris for all he has done for Schneider, to include positioning the company for this seamless transition with Mark,” said Dan Sullivan, Schneider’s non-executive board chairman. “During his tenure as CEO, Chris has greatly enhanced the financial performance of the company across our broad portfolio of asset- and non-asset based services through excellent leadership, accountability and sound strategic planning to include the important role that technology plays in the company’s businesses.”

Rourke, 54, will be the fourth chief executive of Schneider in its 84-year history. Rourke has been with Schneider since 1987.

Prior to his current role, Rourke served as president of the company’s truckload services division and general manager of Schneider Transport Management, where he was responsible for delivering sole source, promotional and brokerage service offerings of the company.

He also served as vice president of customer service, director of transportation planning for customer service, Midwest area service manager and director of driver training.

Rourke has served as chief operating officer since 2015. He received total compensation of $3.2 million last year on top of his base salary of $550,000.

“I have been privileged to serve this great company over the last 30 plus years and to have worked closely with Chris over the last 12 plus years,” Rourke said. “He took over the leadership of this company from an industry icon, Don Schneider. By leveraging the solid foundation that Don had built, Chris accelerated the company’s position as a transportation and logistics bellwether by embracing technology and innovation, and challenging the status quo.