NORFOLK (dpa-AFX) - The board of directors of railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) has named Michael Wheeler executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective February 1, 2016, following the retirement of Mark Manion on that date.
Additionally, effective October 1, 2015, Cindy Earhart's title is executive vice president administration and chief information officer, reflecting her new responsibility for the corporation's Information Technology department.
Earhart assumes the IT responsibility following the October 1, 2015, retirement of Deborah Butler.
Before assuming COO duties, Wheeler will serve as senior vice president operations, effective October 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016. NS' transportation, mechanical, and engineering groups will report to him, while the safety and environmental, police, and network and service management groups will continue to report to Manion.
Wheeler, who has served as vice president engineering since 2012, joined NS in 1985 as a research engineer. He served in positions of increasing responsibility in the corporation's mechanical and transportation areas, before being named vice president transportation in 2009.
Earhart, the new CIO, joined NS in 1985 as supervisor subsidiary accounting. She served in accounting and information technology positions before being named vice president human resources in 2007 and executive vice president administration in 2013.
Further, effective October 1, 2015, Philip Merilli has been named vice president engineering, reporting to Wheeler and with office in Atlanta. His department is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and inspection of the rail network's tracks, bridges, and signal systems.
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