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March 11, 2008 |
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KANSAS CITY: Realigns Transportation Divisions & Leadership Team Kansas City Southern and its U.S. subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company has promoted two employees and realigned its transportation divisions and leadership team. * David R. Ebbrecht was promoted from assistant vice president network operations to vice president transportation, reporting to Scott E. Arvidson, executive vice president and chief operating officer. * Jeff M. Crandall has moved from vice president transportation to vice president engineering, reporting to Jerry W. Heavin, senior vice president international engineering. * Mitchell S. Whitmire was promoted from general director materials logistics to general manager locomotive operations, reporting to John E. Foster, vice president and chief mechanical officer. "In everything that we do, we are implementing a methodical, repeatable, measurable approach to planning and execution – both for today's and for tomorrow's needs," said Mr. Arvidson. "We are fortunate to have a talented group of individuals already in house with the expertise to produce the kind of results our customers and shareholders expect." In his new role, Mr. Crandall is responsible for maintenance of way for KCSR. He joined KCSR in November 2006 to lead the planning and scheduling area of the international engineering department and was promoted to vice president transportation for KCSR in November 2007. Prior to joining KCSR, 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. In his new role, Mr. Ebbrecht is responsible for all KCSR field operations, System Transportation Center and tactical rail asset distribution functions. He joined KCSR in 2001 and has held positions in strategic planning, materials logistics, transportation management and network operations. He has 12 years experience in the transportation logistics industry with KCSR and CSX, and an additional nine years which were spent as an aviation officer in the U.S. Army. Mr. Ebbrecht is a candidate for a master of business administration from the University of Missouri Kansas City and holds a bachelor of science in general engineering and psychology from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In this newly created position, Mitchell S. Whitmire is responsible for improving the availability, reliability and quality of the locomotive fleet. He joined KCSR in 2006, after spending a year as an owner/operator of Whitmire Sawmill. Prior to that, he was a captain in the U.S. Army. Over the course of an 18-year military career, Mr. Whitmire was on active duty as an enlisted infantryman and quartermaster officer, serving in Georgia, Iraq, Kentucky, California and Kuwait. He holds a bachelor of general studies degree from Arkansas State University and an associate's degree in arts and sciences from Black River Technical College. In addition to these promotions, the territories of the three transportation divisions have been realigned, as have their leaders. The Midwest Division territory is now defined as East St. Louis, Illinois, west to Kansas City and south to Shreveport, Louisiana. The new general manager for this division is Kevin D. McIntosh, who most recently served as assistant vice president personnel services. Mr. McIntosh joined KCSR in 1996. In addition to his personnel services role, he has served as general director safety, health and operating practices, has held a variety of transportation management positions and has worked in the accounting department. He holds a master of business administration from the Rockhurst University Executive Fellows Program and a bachelor of science in business management from the University of Missouri Columbia. The Southeast Division territory is defined as Dallas, Texas, east to Shreveport, including Shreveport terminal, east to Meridian, Miss., and north to Counce, Tenn., as well as the line from Hattiesburg to Gulfport, Mississippi. The new general manager for this division is Claude N. Friesland, who most recently served as general manger for the Midwest Division. Mr. Friesland joined KCSR in 2003 and has served in a variety of transportation management positions. Prior to joining KCSR, he spent eight years with Norfolk Southern. Mr. Friesland is a candidate for a bachelor of science in business administration from Phoenix University. The Texas Division territory is now defined as Laredo, Texas, north to Shreveport and from Shreveport south to New Orleans. The new general manger for this division is Mark A. Redd, who most recently served as general manger for the Southeast Division. Mr. Redd joined KCSR in 1993 with KCSR's purchase of the Mid- South Railroad and has held a variety of transportation management positions. He holds a bachelor of science in management from the University of Phoenix. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City Southern -- http://www.kcsouthern.com/en-us -- is an international transportation holding company comprised of three primary railroads: The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, and Panama Canal Railway Company. * * * As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on Feb. 28, 2008, Fitch Ratings upgraded the foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings of Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. to 'BB-'from 'B+'. Fitch said the Rating Outlook is stable. Fitch also upgraded Kansas City Southern de Mexico's US$165 million 7.375% senior notes due 2014; US$460 million 9.375% senior notes due 2012; US$175 million 7.625% senior notes due 2013 to 'BB-' from 'B+' rating. |
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