Cynthia Earhart new exec-VP and CFO at Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern has appointed Cynthia Earhart as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately.

The appointment follows a 1 August announcement that CFO Marta Stewart had retired.

Ms Earhart has spent more than three decades with the carrier, joining the accounting department in 1985 after a spell with Ernst and Whinney.

Since then, she gained increasing levels of responsibility before moving on to information technology, where she was named vice president 2001.

In 2007 Ms Earhart moved departments again to take over as VP human resources before being appointed executive vice president of administration in 2013 and expanding her responsibilities, becoming executive vice president, administration and chief information officer in 2015.

She will retain her IT responsibilities as she steps up to the CFO role.

President and chief executive James Squires said: “Cindy has a strong financial background, a full understanding of our operations and a proven track record as a senior executive who challenges thinking and encourages innovation.

“As we continue to leverage technology to drive further improvements in customer service and productivity, we are confident that having Cindy in this key position will accelerate our progress.”