CSX Corp., Jacksonville, on Aug. 7 announced a new operating management structure that it said decentralizes operational and support functions. It is designed to enhance safety, improve service, accelerate decision making, and drive operating efficiency. The changes are a continuation of the company’s scheduled railroading transformation.
“This is a proven model that pushes decision making closer to the day-to-day field operations and eliminates bureaucracy and long-standing silos within our business,” said James M. Foote, president and CEO. “This new structure highlights the strength of CSX’s extremely talented operating leadership team, and will enable the company to continue driving performance improvements in a more effective and efficient way. We are making a fundamental shift from a headquarters-centric organization to one in which all functions are aligned with our core mission to provide the industry’s best transportation product for our customers.”
The new structure results in the following leadership appointments, all reporting to Ed Harris, executive vice president of operations: Bob Frulla, senior vice president, operations-East; Jermaine Swafford, senior vice president, operations-West; Jamie Boychuk, senior vice president, network operations; and Amy Rice, vice president, intermodal operations.
The oversight of safety programs, policies, and practices will fall under the leadership of Jim Schwichtenberg, vice president and chief safety officer, with resources also embedded in the field.
System engineering and mechanical, including locomotive shops, capital projects, back shop maintenance, communications and signals, design and construction, and regulatory compliance, will fall under Brian Barr, senior vice president, engineering and mechanical.
Frulla, a 28-year CSX veteran, was most recently senior vice president of network operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in the arts from Virginia Tech.
Swafford was previously senior vice president and chief transportation officer, and has 20 years of railroading experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Marshall University in West Virginia.
Boychuk previously served as vice president of precision scheduled railroading implementation and intermodal operations. Prior to joining CSX, he spent 20 years at Canadian National Railway. He holds a business and leadership certificate from the University of Notre Dame.
Rice was most recently vice president of strategic planning. She joined CSX in 2011 after stints with Deloitte, National City Bank (now PNC), and Citibank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Emory University Goizueta School of Business and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.