CSX changes keep rolling with executive management shake-ups

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based Class I railroad’s newly appointed chief operating officer, James Foote, previously worked for Canadian National Railway with current CSX chief executive officer E. Hunter Harrison.    Jacksonville, Fla.-based Class I railroad CSX Corp. has hired a new chief operating officer to take on the responsibilities of two executives who are leaving the company next month, CSX confirmed Oct. 25.
   Newly hired COO James M. Foote will have responsibility for both operations and sales and marketing, and will be based at the company’s Florida headquarters, the company said.
   Foote has over 40 years of railroad industry experience, beginning with the Chicago and North Western Railroads, then with Canadian National Railway as its executive vice-president sales and marketing, working under current CSX chief executive officer E. Hunter Harrison.
   Most recently, he was president and chief executive officer of Bright Rail Energy, a company that designs, develops and sells products to railroads that enable them to save money and reduce their environmental impact by transitioning to natural gas to power locomotives.
   He’s taking on the responsibilities of current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy M. Sanborn and Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fredrik J. Eliasson, both of whom, according to CSX, are resigning effective Nov. 15 “to pursue other interests,” but are expected to “remain engaged in supporting the transition” to new executive leadership until early 2018.
   Sanborn was appointed to her current role in September 2015, following her appointment as executive vice president-operations in February of the same year. Eliasson, who was named to his current role in September 2015, was the company’s chief financial officer for about three years before becoming chief sales and marketing officer.
   In addition to the departures of Sanborn and Eliasson, Ellen M. Fitzsimmons, the company’s executive vice president, law and public affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, has announced her retirement from CSX, effective Nov. 15.
   Fitzsimmons, assumed her current role in 2003, joined CSX in 1991 and was named corporate general counsel in 1997.
   Upon her exit, the company’s current vice-president risk compliance and general counsel, Nathan D. Goldman, is expected to be promoted to executive vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, CSX said. Like Sanborn and Eliasson, Fitzsimmons is expected to play a supporting role in the transition until early 2018.
   “CSX is pleased to welcome an experienced railroader who will help continue to drive the company’s transformation,” President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison said of Foote in a prepared statement, adding that his familiarity with the Precision Scheduled Railroading efficiency system would be a significant asset for the company.
   “On behalf of the board of directors and all CSX employees, I would also like to sincerely thank Cindy, Fredrik and Ellen for their dedication to the company and wish them well in their future endeavors,” Harrison said.