The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced new corporate officer assignments and promotions. The moves are intended to strengthen the leadership of its Global Manufacturing Organization (GMO) and Commercial units to better address the requirements of customers worldwide, the company said.

Mark Rittenbaum, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial and Leasing Officer, announced the following promotion:

• Brian Comstock has been named Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, reporting to Rittenbaum.

As Greenbrier's Chief Commercial Officer, Rittenbaum continues to have responsibility for global Leasing and Commercial functions in North America and Latin America. Working with Rittenbaum and regional executives, Comstock continues management of commercial sales and marketing activities and strategy for the Americas, supervising market activity in North America, Brazil and greater Latin America.

Greenbrier's Board of Directors has also designated Comstock a corporate executive officer and he will join Greenbrier's Executive Committee, comprised of key unit heads including Alejandro Centurion, President, GMO; Rittenbaum; Rick Turner, Senior Vice President, Greenbrier Rail Services; and Jim Cowan, President, Greenbrier International. This committee is chaired by Executive Vice President and CFO Lorie Tekorius and includes Senior Vice President and General Counsel Martin Baker. The committee, which reports to Chairman, President and CEO, Bill Furman, oversees management policies in capital allocation, operations and technology, strategy, human resources, administration and risk management, as well as strategic, budgeting and planning functions.Internationally, Comstock will work with Furman, Cowan and Centurion.

Centurion announced the following promotions and expanded assignments:

• Owen Whitehall has been promoted to Executive Vice President, GMO North American Operations and Global Sourcing, reporting to Centurion. This move will deploy Whitehall's broad experience in global sourcing and manufacturing operations for future growth.
•  Martin Graham assumes the expanded role of Executive Vice President, GMO International Operations and Global Engineering, also reporting to Centurion. He will continue to maintain oversight of all engineering and quality assurance functions companywide and provide GMO support for all company activities in North America, Europe, GCC and Brazil.
• Also promoted are Alejandro Arias to Vice President of Mexican Operations and Zane Peterson to Vice President of Global Sourcing, both reporting to Whitehall.
• Oziel Salinas recently joined the company as General Manager of Greenbrier's Gunderson-GIMSA joint venture, serving in Arias' previous role and reporting to him.

This structure supports Greenbrier's broad-based global growth strategy, anchored by Gunderson, its flagship manufacturing company in the United States, and supported by factories and technical centers in Mexico, Brazil, Poland and Romania, along with a growing presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

"Today's promotions advance two goals at Greenbrier. We are preparing for the future by tapping our executive talent pool for greater contributions as part of our ongoing succession planning efforts,” Furman said. “We are also sharpening the efficiency and responsiveness of our unified Global Manufacturing Organization to better serve our customers and our commercial colleagues at Greenbrier International.  As a result of these changes, Greenbrier is better positioned to respond to a broader span of addressable markets where Greenbrier's Commercial, Leasing, Manufacturing and Engineering teams are actively serving demand for global products and services."

Furman concluded, "At Greenbrier we know the source of all value is our customers.  By these actions, we are rededicating ourselves to this principle and building an organization focused on providing the best experience for our customers.  Brian Comstock, Owen Whitehall, Alex Arias and Zane Peterson have been key contributors to Greenbrier's growth and success.  Their advancement demonstrates the vitality of our organization and our commitment to meet the needs of our customers for years to come."

Greenbrier, which has its headquarters in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is an international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets.