BNSF REALIGNS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS MARKETING GROUP

BNSF REALIGNS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS MARKETING GROUP    Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. said it has realigned its industrial products marketing group, which serves the metals, minerals, forest products and chemicals markets, into two groups: sales and marketing.
   “We have historically approached the carload business through separate and distinct commodity groups,” said Dave Garin, group vice president, industrial products. “While we will continue to address the unique needs of each commodity, the new organization will be more focused on what they share in common — train capacity and service.”
   The sales group will be headed by George Duggan, vice president, industrial products sales. He was vice president, chemicals.
   BNSF said the sales group will focus on becoming more integrated in new and existing customers' supply chains. The railroad said it expects to bolster its sales group to increase its customer coverage by 30 percent in the next 12 to 18 months.
   The marketing group is headed by Denis Smith, who has been promoted to vice president, industrial marketing. He was assistant vice president, forest products.
   The railroad said the marketing group will focus on simplifying the way customers use its carload network by streamlining rate structures and introducing new products.