USA: National passenger operator Amtrak named Richard Anderson as its next President & Chief Executive on June 26. The former CEO of Delta and Northwest Airlines will take up the post on July 12, acting as co-CEO with incumbent Wick Moorman until December 31.
Moorman had joined Amtrak in September 2016 as a transitional CEO tasked with improving operations, streamlining the organisational structure and helping to recruit a successor. He said Anderson was ‘a leader with the strategic vision and tactical experience necessary to run a railroad that benefits our customers, partners and stakeholders nationwide.’
Anderson, 62, was Executive Chairman of the Delta Air Lines board until October 2016, having served as CEO in 2007-16. He was Executive Vice-President at United Healthcare in 2004-07 and CEO of Northwest Airlines in 2001-04. He has also worked in the legal division at Continental Airlines and was a former county prosecutor.
Amtrak board Chairman Tony Coscia said Anderson ‘brings to Amtrak his experience running one of the largest global commercial air carriers’, and would be ‘the right leader at the right time to drive the quality of customer service that our passengers, partners and stakeholders expect and deserve while continuing our path towards operational and financial excellence.’
‘It is an honour to join Amtrak at a time when passenger rail service is growing in importance in America’, said Anderson. ‘Amtrak is a great company today, and I’m excited about using my experience and working with the board to make it even better. I’m passionate about building strong businesses that create the best travel experience possible for customers.’
