Norfolk Southern said it has appointed Brian Barr to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Barr, who has nearly three decades of experience, will oversee the railroads operations including safety, transportation, network planning and operations, engineering and equipment maintenance. Barr joined the railroad two years ago to lead the Mechanical department.
“Brian is the right leader for Operations, bringing a strong commitment to safety, broad railroading expertise and a proven ability to build a fast, resilient network that earns customer trust every day,” Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George said. “Brian’s career has given him a front row seat to every aspect of the operation and a deep understanding of the complexities of an eastern rail network. This gives him a unique vantage point to help take us to the next level to serve our customer demands.”
Barr assumed the role on June 1, following the announcement that John Orr would leave the Executive Vice President and COO role. Orr retired from the company effective July 1. Orr will continue to stay on as a special advisor to the chair of the board of directors through June 1, 2027, or the closing of the merger, whichever is earlier.
Prior to joining Norfolk Southern, Barr held leadership roles including terminal superintendent, Senior Vice President Network Planning & Services, Senior Vice President Operations, Chief Mechanical Officer and Senior Vice President Engineering and Mechanical at CSX, and Senior Vice President Transportation at Union Pacific.
Barr graduated from Bellevue University with a degree in business administration and has completed the Executive Leadership Forum with Harvard Executive Education.