BNSF operations chief to retire in August

Greg Fox, executive vice president of operations at BNSF Railway, will be succeeded by current Senior Vice President of Transportation Dave Freeman, effective June 1, 2016, but will stay with the company through August to facilitate the transition.    Greg Fox, executive vice president of operations at BNSF Railway, has announced his intention to retire on August 31, 2016, according to a statement from the Class I railroad. 
   Fox will be succeeded in the role by current Senior Vice President of Transportation Dave Freeman, effective June 1, but plans to stay with the company through August to facilitate the transition.
   A 32-year company veteran, Fox began his railroad career in 1984 as a corporate management trainee in Fort Worth, holding a variety of positions in operations, finance, strategic planning and information technology before being promoted to EVP of operations in November 2010.
   “Greg has played an absolutely essential role in building and shaping who we are today at BNSF,” President and CEO Carl Ice said of Fox’s retirement. “It’s hard to think of an area that Greg hasn’t influenced – from our culture of commitment to safety, to the strategy driving our investment in technology and infrastructure, to our focus on velocity and continuous improvement throughout our operation. His intelligent and perceptive leadership, his steady vision when facing challenges, and his genuine concern for people have all been hallmarks of his leadership style and his impact on our company.”
   In his new role, Freeman will oversee the entire operations organization, including engineering, environmental, mechanical, operations support, transportation, safety and training, service design, and resource protection. He will report to directly to Ice and join BNSF’s Executive Team.
   The Berkshire Hathaway-owned railroad reported earlier this month its first-quarter 2016 net income dropped 25 percent to $784 million from the same 2015 period, the lowest level in two years, amid slumping coal volumes.