Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) and its subsidiaries today announced the promotions of Jeff M. Crandall from assistant vice president international engineering to vice president transportation for The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR); Carl Harrison from assistant vice president technology and business solutions to vice president information technology and telecommunications; and James Koelper from director to assistant vice president telecommunications.
Mr. Crandall has nearly 30 years of railroading experience. He joined KCS in November 2006 to lead the planning and scheduling area of the international engineering department. Prior to that, he spent 28 years with Union Pacific in a variety of engineering, mechanical and transportation roles. Mr. Crandall holds a bachelor of science in business management from Iowa State University. He is based in Shreveport, La. and reports to Scott Arvidson, KCSR executive vice president and chief operating officer.
“With a diverse background in all areas of railroad operations, Jeff is well-positioned to lead the U.S. transportation team toward continued operational improvements,” said Mr. Arvidson.
Mr. Harrison joined KCS in 2003 and has managed a variety of technical areas for the company. He has also provided information technology consulting and held management positions at Exxon, BNSF Railway, DST, H&R Block and Sprint PCS. A native of the United Kingdom, Mr. Harrison worked for IBM and KPMG before moving to the U.S. in 1992. Mr. Harrison holds a master of business administration from Rockhurst University and a bachelor of science with joint honors in mathematics and computer science from Manchester University. He is based in Kansas City and reports to Mr. Arvidson.
“Carl’s most recent assignment has been in Monterrey, where he has been working to further develop the companies’ near shore IT development center in Mexico,” said Mr. Arvidson. “He will continue that work from Kansas City, in addition to overseeing the ongoing operations of the information technology organization to ensure the best overall value proposition.”
Mr. Koelper has 29 years of railroad telecommunications experience, including eight years with KCSR and 17 years with Santa Fe. During the privatization of the Mexican railroads in 1997, he served as a consultant in the effort to modernize the telecommunications infrastructure of TFM, which is now Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (KCSM). Mr. Koelper holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He is based in Kansas City and reports to Mr. Harrison.
“Our plans include substantial investments in telecommunications,” said Mr. Arvidson. “Jim will provide essential leadership to ensure the success of these endeavors.”
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., KCS is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is KCSR, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include KCSM, serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. KCS' North American rail holdings and strategic alliances are primary components of a NAFTA Railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Contacts:
C. Doniele Kane, 816-983-1372
dkane@kcsouthern.com
