Atlanta, Georgia, United States, December 2024 –Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has announced the appointment ofAnn A. Adams as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), with responsibility for human resources and labor relations. Reporting directly toCEO Mark George, Adams will play a pivotal role in shaping Norfolk Southern’s organizational culture and human resources strategy. Additionally, PC Bryant has been named Vice President Human Resources, reporting to Adams.
Adams joined Norfolk Southern in 2001 as a Manager in Human Resources and has since held roles of increasing responsibility, including Chief Transformation Officer, where she successfully integrated HR, labor relations, corporate communications, IT, and sustainability functions. Earlier this year, Adams transitioned into an advisory role to support the company’s leadership restructuring efforts before assuming her current role as CHRO.
“I asked Annie to step into the CHRO role because she is adept at building a high-performing organization and aligning the enterprise behind who we are, how we grow, and how we bring employees along with us every step of the way,” said Mark George, CEO of Norfolk Southern. “Her strong skillset, organizational knowledge, and vast experience make Annie the right partner as we focus on deepening engagement, promoting excellence, and delivering even greater results. Annie’s voice at the table will be vital to our ongoing transformation and success.”
Throughout her career, Adams has successfully overseen key initiatives, including national rail labor negotiations, culture change management, and the relocation and design of Norfolk Southern’s headquarters. She holds a B.A. from Davidson College, a master’s and Ph.D. from Rice University, and has completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School. She also serves on the boards of Specialty Building Products, the Midtown Improvement District, and Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.
PC Bryant
Adams expressed her enthusiasm for the role and her confidence in Bryant’s leadership: “I am excited to continue working alongside my colleagues to build a great culture at NS, and proud to have PC leading our Human Resources function,” said Ann Adams, CHRO of Norfolk Southern. “PC is a collaborative leader who aligns HR strategy with enterprise goals and embraces data and technology to propel the work, all while staying grounded in what is most important – our people.”
Since joining Norfolk Southern in 2020 as Assistant Vice President Human Resources, Bryant has led workforce planning, performance management, training, and organizational change initiatives. Prior to Norfolk Southern, he held HR leadership roles at CSX, The Home Depot, and Intercontinental Hotels Group, among others. Bryant holds a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in industrial and organizational development and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in marketing.
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has been a key player in the U.S. freight transportation sector since 1827. Its operations-driven network enables the safe transport of goods across a broad range of industries, delivering more than 7 million carloads annually. With the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern United States, Norfolk Southern connects major container ports along the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes. Committed to sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail.
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran joins P&G India as Chief Sales Officer, bringing nearly two decades of global experience in sales strategy and distributor management. She succeeds Sai Ramana Ponugoti...
Vikash Modi joins AU Small Finance Bank as Head of Human Resources. With 26+ years of expertise in HR transformation and leadership development across YES BANK, Tata Motors...
Veronica Ntshalintshali has been appointed Chief People Officer at FNB Eswatini. With over two decades of HR leadership experience, including a distinguished tenure at FNB South Africa, she...
Stephanie Briggs has been appointed as Chief People Officer at The Humane Society of the United States. With over three years at HSUS and a distinguished HR career,...
Debra Thompson joins Organogenesis as Vice President Human Resources, bringing extensive experience in HR transformation and leadership development to the regenerative medicine leader.
