CN 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.
Whitehead, 50, brings over 30 years of railroad experience, including 25 years in management roles. He was previously CN’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Network Operating Officer since October 2023. Whitehead holds a Master of Science in Transportation Management from the University of Denver and has completed advanced programs at Wharton. Based in Montreal, he has been studying French since 2023.
Drysdale, 53, has nearly 30 years with CN, starting in sales and marketing. She has held executive roles across investor relations, finance, sustainability, and corporate development. Drysdale has served as interim Chief Commercial Officer since July 2025 and was previously Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University and an MBA from McGill University. She is bilingual and based in Montreal.
CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson praised the appointments, saying, “Janet and Pat are key drivers of CN’s efforts to achieve new levels of operational, commercial and customer service excellence.” Robinson also thanked Derek Taylor for his contributions following his departure.
