CSX Announces VP Appointments in Finance, Commercial

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX Corporation announces appointments for three veteran leaders of the company.

• Dean Piacente, currently vice president of chemicals and fertilizer, has been named vice president of finance.  In this role he will be directly responsible for the overall financial management of the corporation, which includes budgeting, capital planning, forecasting, financial analysis and interfacing with business partners. Piacente holds a bachelor's degree from Florida State University and earned a Certificate in Business Excellence at Columbia University.

• Fredrik Eliasson, currently vice president of emerging markets, has been named vice president of chemicals and fertilizer, responsible for CSX's commercial activities in the chemicals, phosphates and fertilizers markets.  Eliasson holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

• Derrick Smith, currently vice president of finance, returns to the sales and marketing department as vice president of emerging markets.  In this role he will be responsible for CSX's commercial activities in the aggregates, processed materials, waste, military and machinery markets. He also will have responsibility for TRANSFLO, CSX de Mexico, regional development, inside sales and international traffic through eastern and Gulf Coast ports.  Smith holds a bachelor's degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MBA from Columbia University.  He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

"These changes are consistent with our tradition of building a strong, broad-based leadership organization focused on customer and employee excellence," said Michael J. Ward, CSX chairman, president and chief executive officer.  "Dean, Fredrik and Derrick are exemplary leaders of CSX. Each brings a variety of experiences and strengths to his role."

Piacente will report to Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief financial officer.  Eliasson and Smith will report to Clarence Gooden, executive vice president and chief commercial officer.  

About CSX

CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

SOURCE CSX Corporation