CN Executive Appointments: Driving Railway Excellence & Customer Service

CN Railway welcomes Patrick Whitehead and Janet Drysdale to new executive roles. Whitehead brings 30+ years’ railroad experience; Drysdale offers deep CN expertise.

CN Executive Appointments: Driving Railway Excellence & Customer Service
October 21, 2025 6:54 pm | Last Update: October 21, 2025 6:56 pm
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Introduction

CN announced the appointments of Patrick Whitehead as executive vice president and chief operating officer and Janet Drysdale as EVP and chief commercial officer, effective yesterday. Whitehead’s appointment follows the departure of Derek Taylor from the company.

Executive Appointments

CN has appointed Patrick Whitehead as executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Janet Drysdale as EVP and chief commercial officer, effective yesterday. These appointments were announced following the departure of Derek Taylor from the company.

Leadership Comments

CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson stated, “Janet and Pat are key drivers of CN’s efforts to achieve new levels of operational, commercial and customer service excellence. Their proven cross-functional leadership is instrumental in delivering value for our shareholders and customers.”

Patrick Whitehead’s Background

Whitehead has over 30 years of railroad experience, with more than 25 years in management positions within transportation and mechanical operations. He was previously appointed EVP and chief network operating officer in October 2023.

Janet Drysdale’s Background

Drysdale’s career at CN spans nearly 30 years, with the first decade focused on various sales and marketing roles. She has extensive cross-functional experience, having held executive positions at CN in investor relations, finance, corporate and business development, and sustainability. She served as CCO on an interim basis since July. Prior to this, she was CN’s chief stakeholder relations officer.

Conclusion

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CN has appointed Patrick Whitehead and Janet Drysdale to new executive positions. Whitehead brings over 30 years of railroad experience to his new role, while Drysdale has held various positions within CN over her nearly 30-year career.

CN

CN is a company mentioned in the text.

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