CN's new Leadership Team: Keith Creel appointed chief operating officer, Jean-Jacques Ruest appointed chief marketing officer

MONTREAL, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI), announced today the composition of his Leadership Team - a key step in driving CN to the next level.

Keith Creel, previously CN's executive vice-president, operations, is being appointed as CN's executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Jean-Jacques Ruest, previously CN's senior vice-president, marketing is being appointed as CN's executive vice-president and chief marketing officer. These appointments are effective immediately and both will report to the president and CEO.

Mongeau said: "Keith and JJ are key players at CN. Keith brings a deep understanding of our Precision Railroading model and sound knowledge of what is needed in the marketplace. JJ has acquired vast experience with CN's customer base and knows the intricacies of our rail operations. Together they will contribute their experience and strategic thinking to keep CN at the forefront of the rail industry."

Also forming part of the CN Leadership Team are Luc Jobin, CN's executive vice-president and chief financial officer, who joined CN mid-2009 to oversee financial management and strategic planning and will now also assume responsibility for the information technology function at CN; Sean Finn, executive vice-president, corporate services and chief legal officer, who will assume full leadership of government and public affairs in addition to his responsibilities for the law, risk mitigation, security and corporate secretary functions; and Kim Madigan, who is being appointed as vice-president, human resources, and will assume leadership of the labour relations and human resources functions at CN.

Other key members of the Leadership Team are Robert Noorigian, CN's vice-president, investor relations, and Gordon Trafton, previously CN's senior vice-president, strategic acquisitions and integration, who is being appointed as special advisor to the CN Leadership Team until he retires at the end of 2010.

Mongeau said: "The strength of CN's great franchise is its people. I have complete confidence that this Leadership Team is the right one to guide the 22,000 railroaders across our network and continue building on the company's success. Together we will create and seize business opportunities, and face the challenges of 2010 and beyond."

CN also announced the appointment of Jeff Liepelt, previously vice-president, eastern region, to the position of senior vice-president, eastern region, reporting to Creel; and the appointment of Karen Phillips, previously CN's vice-president, North American government affairs, to the position of vice-president, public and government affairs, reporting to Finn.

CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca.

SOURCE CN