CSX operations chief to retire

Operations leaders will share Cory’s duties

CSX executives will share retiring ops chief's duties. (Photo: CSX)

CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory is retiring, ending a tenure that began when he came out of retirement to join the railroad in September 2023. 

Cory will work with the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition, the company said, and will provide transition services through May 8, 2027.

Rather than immediately naming a successor, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) said two senior operations executives will now report directly to President and Chief Executive Steve Angel:

  • Doug Ryhorchuk, senior vice president of Operations, who oversees transportation, engineering, and mechanical functions. He spent nearly four decades at CN before joining CSX in 2024.
  • Casey Albright, senior vice president of Network Operations and Service Design, who has nearly 30 years at CSX.

Angel credited Cory with helping drive safety and productivity to record levels while developing a strong bench of operations leaders. 

“Mike has dedicated his career to the railroad industry and has made significant contributions to CSX, our customers, and our employees,” Angel said in the company’s announcement.

Cory previously served as executive vice president and COO at CN (NYSE: CNI), retiring from that railroad in 2019 before joining CSX four years later.

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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.