Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Craig Richardson will retire in 2025. Also, Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Jackie Peets, a 2018 Railway Age “Fast Tracker,” is recognized as one of Atlanta’s top diversity and inclusion officers; IntelliTrans appoints Matt Everson as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing; and Josh Anders joins Savage as Chief Financial Officer.
UP
UP on Nov. 18 reported that Craig Richardson, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, will retire March 31, 2025, after nearly 10 years of service. Richardson has served in his current role since December 2020, overseeing all aspects of the Class I railroad’s legal affairs and leading its claims management team. He joined UP in 2016 as Associate General Counsel, after holding the positions of Principal Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, and Vice President and General Counsel at the El Paso Pipeline Group. Richardson also served in security roles for the U.S. government and is a retired commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
To aid in the transition to Richardson’s retirement, UP has hired Christina Conlin as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, effective Dec. 2. According to the railroad, she will serve “as steward of legal affairs, protecting the railroad’s reputation and mitigating risk, and provide strategic counsel to the railroad’s senior leadership team.” Most recently, Conlin was Chief Risk Officer and Associate General Counsel at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where she led the Legal Enterprise Risk group, including legal oversight for labor and employment; regulatory affairs; environmental, health and safety; compliance and ethics; and sustainability reporting. She has also served as Partner at Baker McKenzie in its International Commercial group and held multiple roles at McDonald’s Corporation, including European Chief Compliance Officer. Conlin started her career as a private practice trial lawyer.
“Craig’s service to Union Pacific and extensive legal expertise helped our company through a time of significant change and transformation,” UP CEO Jim Vena said. “As his retirement date approaches, we are focused on ensuring a smooth transition given the critical role he plays. Christina will be a part of that transition and bring fresh perspectives and insights to our company’s dynamic legal and regulatory landscape. While it is still too soon to congratulate Craig on his retirement just yet, please join me in extending a warm Union Pacific welcome to Christina.”
Separately, UP’s Mechanical Car Department recently achieved 1 million hours of safe work.
NS
The Atlanta Business Chronicle has named NS’s Jackie Peets as one of its 2024 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) honorees, NS reported Nov. 18. The awards recognize individuals who promote diversity and demonstrate leadership, commitment, and motivation throughout the organization and the wider community.
“As a veteran human resources executive, Peets brings a relentless drive to create real, lasting change in her current role,” according to the railroad. “Recognizing that collaboration across corporate functions is essential to maximize impact, Peets took proactive steps to break down silos to ensure DEI, supplier inclusion, and corporate giving teams collaborate to deliver results for our employees and the communities we serve.” As NS Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Peet has helped shape the Class I’s approach to DEI and expanded its Employee Resource Group network.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle,” Peets said. “It’s a privilege to lead inclusion and belonging initiatives at Norfolk Southern and I am proud of our efforts to create a positive work environment for everyone here.”
“Jackie leads with purpose to shape a more inclusive culture in collaboration with our Inclusive Leadership Council and Employee Resources Groups,” commented NS AVP Talent Management, Engagement and DEI Christine Traubel. “Her work builds awareness and provides actionable steps for leaders and employees alike to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just concepts, but guiding principles that drive Norfolk Southern forward.”
IntelliTrans
Matt Everson has taken on the role of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at IntelliTrans, a global provider of software and services that support shippers using rail, truck, barge, and intermodal transportation. Previously, he held leadership positions at Freightwise, Kewill, Oracle, and Infor, where he spearheaded sales and marketing initiatives. Everson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a Master of Education in applied kinesiology.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to IntelliTrans at such a pivotal moment in our company’s expansion,” IntelliTrans President and CEO Chad Raube said. “His visionary leadership, combined with his customer-centric approach and expertise in the TMS domain, positions us well for continued growth. As we deepen our commitment to delivering innovation solutions, Matt’s expertise will help us expand outreach and better serve our customer base.”
“I am delighted to join IntelliTrans at this exciting stage of company growth,” Matt Everson said. “My experiences in sales and marketing roles will help drive customer success and market penetration.”
IntelliTrans in October named Mayank Sharma as Chief Product Officer.
Savage
Savage, a global supply chain company, has welcomed Josh Anders as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, he will serve as a member of the company’s Enterprise Leadership Team. Anders was previously President and Chief Financial Officer for Sage Natural Resources LLC, a private equity-backed portfolio company of Edge Natural Resources. He has also held the positions of Chief Financial Officer at Samson Resources II, LLC, a private upstream oil and gas company; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.; Vice President and Controller at Southwestern Energy Company; and Vice President, Business Development and Treasurer for Beryl Oil and Gas LP.
Anders earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Louisiana State University and an Executive MBA from Texas A&M. Additionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant and United States Army National Guard veteran.
“Josh’s background in relevant industries and as a Chief Financial Officer in other businesses make him an excellent fit for Savage,” said Jeff Roberts, Savage President and CEO. “He’s a strong financial leader and strategic partner who’s collaborative and results-driven, and we’re excited to have him join our team.”
“I’m honored and humbled to join the Savage team,” Josh Anders said.
Separately, construction began earlier this month on Savage’s approximately 11-mile Savage Tooele Railroad in Utah.
