On 26th July 2023, US Class I railway company Union Pacific appointed Jim Vena as CEO and member of the Board of Directors with effect from 14th August 2023. Beth Whited, previously Executive Vice President for Sustainability and Strategy and Chief Human Resources Officer, will be appointed President, reporting to Vena. Mike McCarthy, formerly independent lead director of Union Pacific, was elected chair of the board. Vena succeeds Lance Fritz, who is leaving his roles as chair, president, and CEO. Operations, finance, marketing and sales, supply chain and technology will report directly to Vena going forward, while Whited will be responsible for strategy, human resources, sustainability, legal, corporate relations, and government affairs. Vena brings more than 40 years of industry experience and returns to Union Pacific after serving as COO from 2019 to 2020 and Senior Advisor to the chair in 2021.
