Conrail’s Board of Directors has named Timothy Tierney President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1. Tierney succeeds Ronald Batory, who is retiring after nearly 46 years in the railroad industry.
A 39-year Conrail veteran—both iterations, “Big” Conrail and Conrail Shared Assets Operations—Tierney most recently served as Vice President and Chief Engineer, managing all of the company’s engineering functions. He assumed responsibility for locomotive assets, mechanical policy and planning in 2002.
Prior to this role, Tierney worked in various positions of increasing responsibility within Conrail’s engineering department, including Division Engineer of the Buffalo, Albany, and Philadelphia divisions. Between 1996 and 1999, he worked assignments at Philadelphia headquarters, culminating as Chief Engineer-System during the planning, transition and implementation of Conrail’s acquisition by CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Following completion of that transaction, which culminated in formation of the three Shared Assets areas (North Jersey, South Jersey/Philadelphia and Detroit), Tierney played a critical role managing capital expenditures and overseeing design, development and project management of infrastructure projects.
“Tim Tierney has served Conrail with distinction and proven himself to be a successful, trusted leader with an exceptional commitment to hard work and safety,” Batory said. “Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the rail industry and will continue to accelerate Conrail’s commitment to providing safe, efficient service.”
Batory joined Conrail in 1998 as Vice President-Operations, and was appointed President and COO in 2004. Prior to Conrail, Batory served as President of The Belt Railway Company of Chicago. He spent more than 20 years working for eastern and western Class I railroads in addition to assisting a court-appointed trustee’s successful oversight of a regional railroad bankruptcy.
“Norfolk Southern greatly appreciates Ron’s leadership over the past 19 years and his more than four decades as a dedicated railroader,” said NS Chairman, President and CEO Jim Squires. “We wish him the best in a well-deserved retirement.”
“All of us at CSX have great respect for Ron’s railroad experience and his continuous focus on teamwork,” said CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn, who served on the Conrail board of directors and worked closely with Batory for several years. “We wish him a happy retirement.”