CN appoints Patrick Whitehead as COO and Janet Drysdale as CCO, emphasizing operational and commercial excellence.
Quiver AI Summary
CN has announced the immediate appointments of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer and Janet Drysdale as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. These changes follow the departure of former executive Derek Taylor. Tracy Robinson, CN's President and CEO, expressed confidence in their ability to enhance operational and customer service excellence. Patrick, who previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Network Operating Officer, brings over 30 years of railroad experience, while Janet has nearly 30 years at CN, holding various roles in Sales, Marketing, and finance. Both executives are based in Montreal. CN is a major North American railway company that plays a vital role in transporting goods across the continent.
Potential Positives
- Appointment of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing over 30 years of railroad experience to enhance operational leadership.
- Janet Drysdale appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, demonstrating internal development and continuity in leadership roles, as she has served in significant executive capacities at CN.
- Both appointees are expected to drive operational, commercial, and customer service excellence, which is integral to delivering value for shareholders and customers.
- Strengthening of CN’s leadership team with executives who have extensive cross-functional experience and education, potentially leading to improved strategic direction and operational efficacy.
Potential Negatives
- Patrick Whitehead's appointment follows the departure of Derek Taylor, which may indicate instability or management issues within the company.
- The press release lacks specific details on the reasons for Derek Taylor's departure, leaving uncertainty about potential underlying problems in the company's operations.
- The statement does not address how the company plans to maintain operational excellence and customer service amidst leadership transitions, potentially raising concerns among stakeholders.
FAQ
Who were the recent appointments at CN?
CN appointed Patrick Whitehead as COO and Janet Drysdale as CCO effective immediately on October 20, 2025.
What are the backgrounds of Patrick Whitehead and Janet Drysdale?
Patrick has over 30 years in railroad management, while Janet boasts nearly 30 years in various roles at CN, including interim CCO.
Why did CN appoint Patrick Whitehead and Janet Drysdale?
They were appointed to enhance operational, commercial, and customer service excellence at CN, according to CEO Tracy Robinson.
What is CN's role in North America?
CN safely transports over 300 million tons of goods annually, connecting Canada and the U.S. through its extensive rail network.
How can I contact CN for media inquiries?
For media inquiries, contact Jonathan Abecassis at (438) 455-3692 or email [email protected].
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$CNI Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 333 institutional investors add shares of $CNI stock to their portfolio, and 363 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORP removed 6,397,027 shares (-52.8%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $665,546,689
- WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP added 6,372,688 shares (+39.5%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $663,014,459
- TCI FUND MANAGEMENT LTD removed 3,910,012 shares (-14.5%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $406,797,648
- KINGSTONE CAPITAL PARTNERS TEXAS, LLC removed 2,690,400 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $253,704,720
- QUADRATURE CAPITAL LTD removed 2,113,700 shares (-95.6%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $219,909,348
- FISHER ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC added 1,823,800 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $189,748,152
- CIBC WORLD MARKET INC. removed 1,700,845 shares (-26.0%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $176,955,913
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
$CNI Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $CNI in the last several months. We have seen 5 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- Citigroup issued a "Buy" rating on 10/13/2025
- Wells Fargo issued a "Overweight" rating on 10/06/2025
- Susquehanna issued a "Positive" rating on 09/25/2025
- RBC Capital issued a "Outperform" rating on 07/23/2025
- Evercore ISI Group issued a "Outperform" rating on 05/02/2025
To track analyst ratings and price targets for $CNI, check out Quiver Quantitative's $CNI forecast page.
$CNI Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $CNI recently. We have seen 8 analysts offer price targets for $CNI in the last 6 months, with a median target of $112.0.
Here are some recent targets:
- Ariel Rosa from Citigroup set a target price of $119.0 on 10/13/2025
- Christian Wetherbee from Wells Fargo set a target price of $110.0 on 10/06/2025
- Brandon Oglenski from Barclays set a target price of $97.0 on 10/02/2025
- Ken Hoexter from B of A Securities set a target price of $102.0 on 09/29/2025
- Bascome Majors from Susquehanna set a target price of $115.0 on 09/25/2025
- Walter Spracklin from RBC Capital set a target price of $157.0 on 07/23/2025
- Jonathan Chappell from Evercore ISI Group set a target price of $114.0 on 05/02/2025
Full Release
MONTREAL, Oct. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today the appointments of Patrick Whitehead as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer as well as Janet Drysdale as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. Patrick’s appointment follows the departure of Derek Taylor from the Company.
“Janet and Pat are key drivers of CN's efforts to achieve new levels of operational, commercial and customer service excellence. Their proven cross-functional leadership is instrumental in delivering value for our shareholders and customers. I look forward to working closely with them,” said Tracy Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer at CN. "I thank Derek for his contributions to the Company and wish him the best in the future."
Biographical Notes
Patrick, 50, is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of railroad experience, over 25 of which have been in management positions in Transportation and Mechanical operations. Patrick was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Network Operating Officer in October 2023. He holds a Master of Science degree in Transportation Management from the University of Denver and has completed the Wharton School of Business’ Advanced Management and Corporate Governance programs. Pat will be based in Montreal and has been taking French classes since 2023.
Janet, 53, spent the first decade of her nearly 30-year career at CN in a variety of roles in Sales and Marketing. She is a seasoned and versatile leader with significant cross-functional experience having held executive positions at CN in Investor Relations, Finance, Corporate/Business Development, Sustainability, and serving as Chief Commercial Officer on an interim basis since July 2025. Prior to that, she was CN’s Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer. Bilingual and based in Montreal since 1997, Janet holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University and an MBA from McGill University.
About CN
CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the U.S. Gulf Coast, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.
Contacts:
| Media | Investment Community |
| Jonathan Abecassis | Stacy Alderson |
| Director, Public Affairs and | Assistant Vice-President |
| Media Relations | Investor Relations |
| (438) 455-3692 |
(514) 399-0052
|
| [email protected] |
[email protected]
|
