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CSX boss Hunter Harrison dies at 73 - just days after going on medical leave
来源：shippingazette.com 编辑：编辑部 发布：2017/12/19 13:45:51
RAILROAD veteran and CEO of the US transportation company CSX Hunter Harrison has died last Saturday, just days after going on medical leave.
Mr Harrison, 73, died in Florida due to "unexpectedly severe complications from a recent illness", the company said. He had a long career transforming railway companies, with stints at the helm of Illinois Central, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.
Mr Harrison was placed at the helm of CSX less than a year ago, and was set to be paid US$300 million for his work. He had promised to turn around CSX, and by August had succeeded in increasing the company's valuation to $46 billion, a 36 per cent increase since he took the reigns in March, according to Fortune.
Edward J Kelly III, chairman of the CSX board of directors, said Jim Foote, who was named acting CEO while Mr Harrison was meant to be on leave, will remain in the role until a permanent successor is found.
"With the passing of Hunter Harrison, CSX has suffered a major loss," said Mr Kelly. "Notwithstanding that loss, the board is confident that Jim Foote, as acting chief executive officer, and the rest of the CSX team will capitalise on the changes that Hunter has made."
The changes to which Mr Kelly referred revolve around CSX's transition to Harrison's "precision scheduled railroading" (PSR) operating model, which at its core is about moving the same amount of cargo with fewer trains, equipment and personnel.
Upon his arrival at CSX, Mr Harrison began making the kind of drastic changes necessary to implement the PSR model. Customers, however, less than enthusiastic about service disruptions that took place during the early stages of the transition, prompting the US Surface Transportation Board (STB) to request monthly operational reports detailing CSX's progress.
Things seemed to finally be quieting down after a tumultuous first six months with Mr Harrison at the helm, but his sudden absence could potentially delay or even derail the work already done, especially if the management board brings in a leader that doesn't share Mr Harrison's management philosophy, American Shipper reported.
"The board will continue to consider in a deliberative way how best to maximise CSX's performance over the long term," said Mr Kelly.
Mr Harrison, 73, died in Florida due to "unexpectedly severe complications from a recent illness", the company said. He had a long career transforming railway companies, with stints at the helm of Illinois Central, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.
Mr Harrison was placed at the helm of CSX less than a year ago, and was set to be paid US$300 million for his work. He had promised to turn around CSX, and by August had succeeded in increasing the company's valuation to $46 billion, a 36 per cent increase since he took the reigns in March, according to Fortune.
Edward J Kelly III, chairman of the CSX board of directors, said Jim Foote, who was named acting CEO while Mr Harrison was meant to be on leave, will remain in the role until a permanent successor is found.
"With the passing of Hunter Harrison, CSX has suffered a major loss," said Mr Kelly. "Notwithstanding that loss, the board is confident that Jim Foote, as acting chief executive officer, and the rest of the CSX team will capitalise on the changes that Hunter has made."
The changes to which Mr Kelly referred revolve around CSX's transition to Harrison's "precision scheduled railroading" (PSR) operating model, which at its core is about moving the same amount of cargo with fewer trains, equipment and personnel.
Upon his arrival at CSX, Mr Harrison began making the kind of drastic changes necessary to implement the PSR model. Customers, however, less than enthusiastic about service disruptions that took place during the early stages of the transition, prompting the US Surface Transportation Board (STB) to request monthly operational reports detailing CSX's progress.
Things seemed to finally be quieting down after a tumultuous first six months with Mr Harrison at the helm, but his sudden absence could potentially delay or even derail the work already done, especially if the management board brings in a leader that doesn't share Mr Harrison's management philosophy, American Shipper reported.
"The board will continue to consider in a deliberative way how best to maximise CSX's performance over the long term," said Mr Kelly.