Norfolk Southern terminates CEO, appoints CFO to lead company
Recasts to say Norfolk Southern fired CEO, promoted CFO
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss
NEW YORK, Sept 11 (Reuters) -Norfolk Southern NSC.N on Wednesday fired its chief executive officer, Alan Shaw, and promoted its chief financial officer to run the railroad after an internal probe into allegations Shaw had violated company ethics policies.
The company tapped Mark George as president and chief executive, ending days of frenzied speculation about the future of Shaw since the company acknowledged on Sunday that it was probing allegations Shaw had an inappropriate relationship with a direct report.
"Shaw's departure is unrelated to the company's performance, financial reporting and results of operations," the company said in a statement, adding that Shaw was terminated for cause.
The company also said it terminated Nabanita Nag, Norfolk Southern's chief legal officer, with whom Shaw had a consensual relationship.
Reuters earlier reported that George, who had been in the running for the top job when Shaw was appointed in 2022, was a candidate to replace him.
Reuters also reported earlier thatexecutives and lawyers were discussing terms of a potential exit package for Shaw, including severance, according to twosources.
Shaw hadbeen with the company for decades and led the company during a disastrous 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that is expected to cost the company more than $1 billion to settle claims.
The investigation into Shaw's conduct comes months after the CEO survived a bitter proxy contest with activist hedge fund Ancora Holdings that saw investors vote in three new directors to the company's 13-member board.
George will join the board, the company said.
Claude Mongeau, executive chair of the board who has been a director since 2019, praised George for having financial experience and operational expertise.
"He embodies our corporate values and is a champion of our safety culture. In close partnership with our accomplished chief operating officer, John Orr, they will continue to improve Norfolk Southern's operating performance," Mongeau said in the statement.
Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Jamie Freed and Cynthia Osterman
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.