The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced several senior management promotions. The announcements include leadership changes in the following business units: Commercial & Leasing; Greenbrier Manufacturing Organization (GMO); Greenbrier Rail Services (GRS); Greenbrier Management Services (GMS), and in Human Resources. Active succession planning continues as a core company objective. Greenbrier benefits from developing and advancing a pipeline of talented and dedicated future leaders.
Commercial & Leasing—North and South America
Organizational changes in the Commercial & Leasing group anticipate the planned retirement of Mark Rittenbaum. Brian Comstock has been appointed to Chief Commercial & Leasing Officer by Greenbrier's Board of Directors, effective immediately. After more than 35 years of service to Greenbrier, Rittenbaum will retire in August 2022. Remaining an Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the Chairman, he will aid the Commercial & Leasing group in its transition to new leadership. He will continue to advance the Commercial & Leasing group's work to strengthen Greenbrier's Leasing model, with the aim of broader customer reach and enhanced shareholder value. Rittenbaum continues to report to William A. Furman, Chairman and CEO, and will take on special projects and other duties as assigned.
In his new position, Comstock executes Greenbrier's go-to-market strategy in North America and South America. He also continues to direct all Greenbrier Commercial & Leasing strategies in the Americas. Comstock began his career in the railroad industry in 1980. Prior to joining Greenbrier in 1998, he served in commercial and operational roles at PLM Leasing, Transco Railway Products, Inc. and Trinity Industries. At Greenbrier, Comstock steadily advanced from a Commercial Team member, to Vice President, Sales, to Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In April 2018, Comstock was appointed Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, North and South America. He serves on the boards of Greenbrier's manufacturing joint ventures in Mexico and Brazil and interacts closely, on an advisory basis, with Greenbrier teams in Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
Furman said, "Greenbrier President and COO Lorie Tekorius and I have worked with Mark and Brian over many years in our Commercial & Leasing business. With Brian now performing his important new role and Mark's help with a strong transition, Greenbrier is well-positioned to continue to grow and strengthen its commercial and leasing platforms for the future. For decades, both Mark and Brian have contributed to Greenbrier's financial success and market competitiveness. They have driven the expansion of our product portfolios through successful interface with our manufacturing and engineering teams under the leadership of GMO President Alejandro Centurion. Together with other team members they developed multiple long-term railcar purchase agreements and strong customer relationships. Through their leadership, Greenbrier has grown its lease investor and customer base, contributing to sustained cash flow and shareholder value. Mark and Brian were both critical to executing the successful 2019 ARI acquisition, and in facilitating market expansions around the world."
Greenbrier Manufacturing Organization
With Alejandro Centurion's leadership, the GMO business unit continues to advance its talent pipeline. William Krueger, Senior Vice President GMO, has assumed responsibility for Greenbrier facilities in Arkansas and Missouri acquired in the ARI acquisition. He also now manages all Greenbrier manufacturing automation and process development, reporting to Owen Whitehall, GMO Executive Vice President, North American Operations. Krueger brings decades of advanced manufacturing experience to his new assignment from senior management positions at major automotive manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan and General Motors.
Greenbrier Rail Services & Greenbrier Management Services
GRS, comprised of Greenbrier's wheels, parts and repair facilities, is now led by Rick Galvan. He joined Greenbrier in October 2019 as Senior Vice President, Operations for GRS. Galvan succeeds Rick Turner, who led GRS since 2013 and retired on December 31, 2020. Galvan has 30 years in the railroad industry at three Class I railroads. He most recently worked with Canadian National as its Chief Mechanical Officer, where he led a cross-functional team focused on U.S. and Canadian railcar and locomotive operations.
Dan Weiler, head of Greenbrier Management Services, now reports to Tekorius, along with Galvan. Weiler and Galvan will drive synergies between the GRS and GMS railcar aftermarket businesses.
Human Resources
In Human Resources, Laurie Dornan has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. Dornan works with business units to help drive talent development and succession planning efforts at Greenbrier. In addition, she manages compensation and benefits strategy along with human resources programs and initiatives. Dornan joined Greenbrier in 2014 and has more than 20 years of professional experience in human resources.
"These executive leadership advancements support Greenbrier's policy to effectively develop future generations of talent while maintaining continuity in our current strategies and operations," Furman said. "I am confident these organizational changes and a continued keen focus on leadership development will help Greenbrier grow now and into the future."