Richard Anderson
Amtrak has chosen former Delta CEO Richard Anderson to lead
the passenger rail service as it begins a major renovation of infrastructure
in the Northeast Corridor, including New York's Penn Station.
Anderson will take over as president and CEO on July 12. He will
serve as co-CEO with current CEO Wick Moorman through Dec. 31, at which time
Moorman will become an Amtrak adviser. Moorman joined Amtrak in September 2016
as a transitional CEO tasked with improving the company's operations,
streamlining the organizational structure and helping to recruit his successor.
Anderson, 62, was Delta's CEO from 2007 to 2016. The airline
emerged from bankruptcy early in his tenure. Later, Delta acquired and absorbed
Northwest Airlines under Anderson's leadership. Anderson was Northwest's CEO
from 2001 to 2004.
"Richard is a best-in-class industry leader and isn't
afraid to face challenges head-on. He has helped companies navigate bankruptcy,
a recession, mergers and acquisitions, and 9/11," said Moorman. "He's
a leader with the strategic vision and tactical experience necessary to run a
railroad that benefits our customers, partners and stakeholders nationwide."
Anderson called it "an honor to join Amtrak at a time
when passenger rail service is growing in importance in America."
Track repairs at Penn Station are scheduled to take place this
July and August, with work possibly continuing into 2018. The work is expected
to cause service disruptions.
Amtrak decided to accelerate infrastructure work following two
derailments at Penn Station this past spring.