ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern’s board of directors has unanimously named Richard Anderson, former CEO at Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Amtrak, as its new independent board chair, effective immediately.
The board has also agreed to reduce its size to 12 members. It had been expanded to 14 earlier this year [see “CSX and Norfolk Southern name new members of board …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 27, 2025].
Anderson succeeds Claude Mongeau, former Canadian National CEO, who resigned as board chair earlier this month for personal reasons [see “Mongeau resigns …,” News Wire, June 3, 2025].
“Since the very beginning of his time on our board, Richard has contributed deep, experience-based business insight and a collaborative style that has helped drive cohesion among the newly constituted Board,” NS CEO Mark George said in a press release. “I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to build on Norfolk Southern’s strong momentum, advance our strategic priorities, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders, customers, and employees.”
Anderson will also serve as chair of the NS Executive Committee and Strategy Planning Committee; Jack Huffard has been named as chair of the Competition and Talent Management Committee. Other committee chairs will remain the same.
“During my year on the board,” Anderson said, “I’ve seen firsthand how the Norfolk Southern team has propelled the company forward — delivering strong performance for stakeholders and becoming an even safer, more efficient railroad. Alongside the management team and dedicated employees, the board remains focused on delivering value for all our stakeholders.”
Anderson became Northwest CEO in 2001 and was appointed to the same position at Delta in 2007, overseeing the merger of those two airlines in 2008. He also served as CEO of Ingenix, a subsidiary of United Health, and was president of Optum Health.
His time at Amtrak — 2017-2020, including a period as co-CEO — remains controversial. He was at the helm for such moves as the end of chartered specials not using regular Amtrak routes; extensive restrictions on private car moves; a suggestion to replace the middle portion of the Southwest Chief route with a bus bridge [see “Raton Pass may lose the Southwest Chief,” News Wire, June 22, 2018]. That idea led to strong pushback from elected officials along the route and ultimately led to some legislative moves to protect Amtrak’s National Network. During his time as co-CEO, the company also bought out a number of experienced managers [see “Trains top stories for 2018: No. 1, Richard Anderson,” News Wire, Dec. 28, 2018].
I would not allow him to run a train under my Christmas tree let alone the NS.
Not good!
Oh oh…time to install a defect detector in his new office….
Not a good choice.
Oh.
Oh no.
There is a rumor that the chefs at the company cafeteria at NS headquarters have been fired, with “flexible dining” being offered as a cost-saving alternative. Also, NS is considering a “truck bridge” as a substitute for sections of the railroad where tough grades increase fuel costs.
NS veto that vote. We don’t want Anderson in there he is an airline exact and a robber baron. This is the man who put airline junk on passenger trains and shut down six Amtrak routes and plus give us a bunch of lemons in our rolling stock. Do not place Anderson on the board he works for TCI and the airline industry and we do not need him running the railroad.
Be afraid NS, be very afraid