Adams joined NS in 2001 as a Manager in Human Resources and rose through the Human Resources and Planning ranks. Appointed Vice President Human Resources in 2016, she was charged with developing and executing talent strategies and employee engagement initiatives. In 2019, she took on the position of Chief Transformation Officer. She oversaw “culture change,” the Class I railroad’s 2021 corporate headquarters’ relocation from Norfolk, Va., to Atlanta, Ga., national rail labor negotiations, and more, as her role combined Human Resources, Labor Relations, Corporate Communications, IT, and Sustainability.
“Earlier this year, NS decided to separate these divisions and Adams assumed an advisory role to help with the transition as the company conducted comprehensive searches to fill new leadership roles, including CHRO,” according to the railroad.
“I asked Annie to step into the CHRO role because she is adept at building a high-performing organization and aligning the enterprise behind who we are, how we grow, and how we bring employees along with us every step of the way,” NS CEO Mark George said. “Her strong skillset, organizational knowledge, and vast experience make Annie the right partner as we focus on deepening engagement, promoting excellence and delivering even greater results. As we round out the executive leadership team, Annie’s voice at the table will be a vital to our ongoing transformation and success.”
In 2021, Railway Age readers selected Adams as one of 10 “Influential Leaders,” and in 2022 Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized her as a “Women of Influence.”
Adams serves on the Board of Directors for Specialty Building Products, a North American distributor based in Duluth, Ga., as well as the Midtown Improvement District and Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. She holds a B.A. from Davidson College and a master’s and Ph.D. from Rice University. She also completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
“I am excited to continue working alongside my colleagues to build a great culture at NS, and proud to have PC leading our Human Resources function,” Adams said. “PC is a collaborative leader who aligns HR strategy with enterprise goals and embraces data and technology to propel the work, all while staying grounded in what is most important—our people.”
Since joining NS in 2020 as Assistant Vice President Human Resources, Bryant has led organizational change initiatives, workforce planning, performance management, training, and more. He previously held roles in Human Resources at CSX, The Home Depot, and Intercontinental Hotels Group, among others. He holds a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in industrial and organizational development and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in marketing.
