Norfolk Southern Adds Former Celanese CEO to Board

By Tamara Parker • Tuesday, January 28 06:04 • Permanent Link

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has appointed Lori J. Ryerkerk, former chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Celanese Corp., to its Board of Directors, expanding the Board to 14 members. Ryerkerk brings more than three decades of global leadership experience in the energy, manufacturing, and chemical industries.

Mark George, president and chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern, stated, "Lori’s extensive experience leading global operations and managing complex supply chain systems is a highly complementary addition to our board."

Under Ryerkerk's leadership, Celanese achieved significant growth, completed transformative acquisitions, and advanced its industry-leading safety performance. Celanese is a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company based in Dallas, Texas.

Ryerkerk's expertise in the energy industry spans more than 30 years, having served as executive vice president of global manufacturing at Shell Downstream Inc., overseeing operations at refineries and chemical sites worldwide. She also held senior leadership roles at Hess Corp. and ExxonMobil.

Norfolk Southern's commitment to operational excellence, enhancing safety, and driving sustainable growth aligns with Ryerkerk's vision. Claude Mongeau, chair of Norfolk Southern’s board, expressed that Ryerkerk's insights will help position the company as the premiere choice to help its customers deliver for the American economy and grow year over year.

Norfolk Southern has been committed to furthering sustainability, helping its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and it operates a 22-state freight transportation network.

Ryerkerk's appointment is made pursuant to the terms of the agreement between Norfolk Southern Corporation 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. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved 2.0%, and are now trading at a price of $259.76. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.

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