CN appoints new executive leadership in operations and commercial roles

MONTREAL - Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) (NYSE:CNI), a $60 billion market cap transportation giant currently trading near its 52-week low, announced Monday the appointment of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and Janet Drysdale as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.

Whitehead, 50, replaces Derek Taylor, who has left the company. Whitehead has over 30 years of railroad experience, including more than 25 years in management positions in Transportation and Mechanical operations. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Network Operating Officer since October 2023.

Drysdale, 53, has been with CN for nearly 30 years and has been serving as Chief Commercial Officer on an interim basis since July 2025. Prior to that, she was CN’s Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer. Throughout her career at CN, Drysdale has held executive positions in Investor Relations, Finance, Corporate Development, and Sustainability.

"Janet and Pat are key drivers of CN’s efforts to achieve new levels of operational, commercial and customer service excellence," said Tracy Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer at CN, according to the company’s press release.

Both executives will be based in Montreal. Whitehead holds a Master of Science degree in Transportation Management from the University of Denver, while Drysdale is bilingual and holds an MBA from McGill University.According to InvestingPro analysis, CN Railway maintains impressive gross profit margins of 55.4% and has raised its dividend for 29 consecutive years, demonstrating strong operational execution. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 10+ additional key insights about CN’s performance and outlook.

CN operates a nearly 20,000-mile rail network connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast, transporting over 300 million tons of goods annually. The company generated $12.6 billion in revenue over the last twelve months, and InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued. For detailed insights and comprehensive analysis of CN Railway and 1,400+ other stocks, consider accessing InvestingPro’s exclusive research reports.

In other recent news, Canadian National Railway has been involved in several significant developments. The company announced a collaboration with Congebec to construct a new cold storage facility at CN’s Calgary Logistics Park in Alberta. This initiative aims to enhance the transfer of temperature-sensitive goods, improving service efficiency for perishable cargo. Additionally, Canadian National Railway’s third-quarter-to-date Revenue Ton Miles (RTMs) have increased by 0.2% year-over-year, surpassing BofA Securities’ previous forecast of a 1.5% decline. Despite this, BofA Securities has lowered its price target for the company to $102 while maintaining a Neutral rating.

Further, Canadian National Railway reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted diluted earnings per share of C$1.87, aligning with analyst expectations. Following this, Bernstein SocGen Group reduced its price target to C$149, maintaining a Market Perform rating. In another strategic move, CN has expanded its firefighting capabilities by introducing new railcars, Oceanus and Amphitrite, equipped with specialized fire suppression equipment. Lastly, Canadian National Railway appointed former LOGISTEC CEO Madeleine Paquin to its Board of Directors, effective October 29, 2025.

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