Ryerkerk, who was identified through a national search conducted by Diversified Search Group and selected in consultation with Ancora Holdings, brings more than three decades of global leadership experience in the energy, manufacturing, and chemical industries. Her appointment, which expands the Board to 14 members, was made in pursuant to the terms of the agreement between NS and Ancora Holdings that was announced in November 2024, in which the parties agreed to work together in identifying an independent director to join the Board.
“Lori’s extensive experience leading global operations and managing complex supply chain systems is a highly complementary addition to our board,” said NS President and CEO Mark George. “Her strong operational acumen and insights as a large rail customer will be tremendous assets as we continue establishing a disciplined and operationally led network to drive long-term growth and deliver exceptional service to our customers and the communities where we operate.”
“Lori’s leadership as a public company CEO and her ability to foster a culture of high performance and top-notch execution align perfectly with Norfolk Southern’s strategic vision. Her insights will help us position Norfolk Southern as the premiere choice to help our customers deliver for the American economy and grow year over year,” said NS Board Chair Claude Mongeau.
Ryerkerk joined Celanese in 2019 as CEO and became Chairman in 2020. Under her leadership, Celanese “achieved significant growth, completed transformative acquisitions, and advanced its industry-leading safety performance,” according to NS.
She also served as Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Shell Downstream Inc., overseeing operations at refineries and chemical sites worldwide. Prior to Shell, she held senior leadership roles at Hess Corp. and ExxonMobil, where she gained extensive experience in refining, chemicals, and global operations.
Ryerkerk holds a chemical engineering degree from Iowa State University and currently serves on the board of Eaton Corp., a leader in power management technologies. “Her leadership and expertise in operations, safety, and sustainability make her a valuable addition to Norfolk Southern’s Board,” the Class I noted.
“Joining the Norfolk Southern board is an honor,” said Ryerkerk. “Railroads are vital to the global economy, and I’m inspired by Norfolk Southern’s commitment to operational excellence, enhancing safety, and driving sustainable growth. I look forward to contributing to its continued success and delivering additional value to our stakeholders.”
More information about NS’s Board of Directors and corporate governance is available here.
