Leadership Team


Meet the team

Team

TRACY ROBINSON

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tracy Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on February 28, 2022 and is responsible for CN’s strategic direction and leadership. Read more»

TRACY ROBINSON

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tracy Robinson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on February 28, 2022 and is responsible for CN’s strategic direction and leadership.

Prior to joining CN, Tracy was Executive Vice-President of TC Energy, President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and President of Coastal GasLink.

Tracy’s deep experience in the railway industry stems from her 27 years at Canadian Pacific Railway. There, she served in executive roles in the commercial, finance and operating functions, including as General Manager of Transportation Services, Vice President and Treasurer, and Vice President of Marketing and Sales.

Tracy is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in the transportation industry. She is known for her ability to drive innovation and foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of leaders and her advocacy for inclusive leadership have further solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking leader.

She is Vice-Chair of the Board of the Business Council of Canada. She is also a member of the Campaign Committee and the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Edward’s School of Business of the University of Saskatchewan.

Tracy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. She received her Institute of Corporate Directors designation in 2015.

GHISLAIN HOULE

Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

Ghislain Houle was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer in July 2016, based in Montreal. Read more»

GHISLAIN HOULE

Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

Ghislain Houle was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer in July 2016, based in Montreal. His responsibilities at CN include financial management, strategic planning, strategic acquisitions, and investor relations. Previously, he had been Vice-President and Corporate Comptroller since March 2016, and Vice-President – Financial Planning since March 2007.

Ghislain joined CN in September 1997 as Chief of Internal Audit. In July 1998, he was appointed Managing Director, ISP Project, a three-year initiative to improve business processes by replacing CN's administrative support systems with the SAP integrated solution. He became Vice-President and Treasurer in 2001 and in 2004, he was responsible for the integration of the Business Development Group with CN Railway Properties, which he already managed since November 2002.

Prior to joining CN, Ghislain held the position of Senior Manager in tax and audit at a major accounting firm.

Ghislain is a CPA, CA and holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Laval University and an MBA from McGill University.

REMI G. LALONDE

Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer

Remi G. Lalonde was appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer on April 18, 2024. Read more»

REMI G. LALONDE

Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer

Remi G. Lalonde was appointed as Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer on April 18, 2024.

Based in Montreal, Remi joined CN on January 8, 2024, as Executive vice-president and Special Advisor to the CEO. Prior to CN, Remi was President and CEO of a Quebec-based forest products company. After several years at a Wall Street law firm, he joined the forest products company as a senior securities counsel. Over his tenure at the company, he served in corporate and customer focused roles, including as Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer and as General Manager for a critical manufacturing facility.

Fluently bilingual in his native French as well as English, Remi holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from the University of Ottawa. Remi has led teams, executed strategy, managed regulatory matters, engaged with Indigenous communities and stakeholders, headed manufacturing operations, and worked with investors and suppliers. His successful track record of cross-functional experience and first-hand knowledge of the importance of supply chains, as well as his focus on business growth and sustainability, will help drive CN’s growth agenda.

DOMINIQUE MALENFANT

Executive Vice-President and Chief Information and Technology Officer

Dominique Malenfant was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Information and Technology Officer in September 2020. Read more»

DOMINIQUE MALENFANT

Executive Vice-President and Chief Information and Technology Officer

Dominique Malenfant was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Information and Technology Officer in September 2020. Based in Montreal, Dominique is responsible to deliver CN’s technology strategy, with a focus on automation technology and the digitalization of CN’s network and operations.

Dominique has spent nearly 30 years in global leadership roles in the transportation and rail industries. In his most recent role, Dominique was Senior Vice-President, Engineering and Chief Technology Officer at Wabtec Corporation. Prior to his position at Wabtec Corporation, Dominique held the position of Vice-President of Global Technology at GE Transportation. During his tenure at Wabtec Corporation and GE Transportation, Dominique was focused on the next generation of Precision Scheduled Railroading and Positive Train Control technologies and spearheaded a major digital industrial evolution in rail.

Previous to GE Transportation, Dominique served as Vice-President of Product and Engineering for the Transportation Propulsion and Control Business at Bombardier Transport. He also managed Bombardier Transport’s North American group, where he was responsible for Product Management, Engineering and Supply Management. He also led the Center of Expertise R&D group, and has experience in Plant Management, Engineering Quality Assurance, Systems Engineering, and Project Management.

Dominique holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Laval University, Quebec.

DEREK TAYLOR

Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operations Officer

Derek Taylor was promoted to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operations Officer in November 2023. Read more»

DEREK TAYLOR

Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operations Officer

Derek Taylor was promoted to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Field Operations Officer in November 2023. Derek is responsible for running CN’s operational plan and is based at CN’s operational center in Homewood, Il.

Derek is a proven strong leader in Transportation with over 20 years of experience at CN. He joined the Company as Management Trainee in Winnipeg, MB, in 2000 and since then has held progressively more senior leadership roles across the organization. He served as General Manager in Fond du Lac, WI, and in Homewood, IL, and was Vice-President, Transportation, for the Southern and Eastern Regions at different times. As Vice-President, Operational Excellence in 2022, he was responsible for driving continuous improvement across CN’s key operating metrics. Derek was appointed Senior Vice-President, Transportation in November 2022.

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in Indiana.

PATRICK WHITEHEAD

Executive Vice-President and Chief Network Operating Officer

Patrick Whitehead was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Network Operating Officer in November 2023. Read more»

PATRICK WHITEHEAD

Executive Vice-President and Chief Network Operating Officer

Patrick Whitehead was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Network Operating Officer in November 2023. He is responsible for making CN’s operational plan and is based at CN’s operational center in Edmonton, AB.

Pat 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. He joined CN in 2021 as General Manager in Chicago. Prior to joining CN, Patrick was Vice-President, Transportation for Norfolk Southern Railway. Patrick was appointed Senior Vice-President, Network Operations in June 2022.

Patrick has completed the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Advanced Management Program and holds a Master of Science degree in Transportation Management from the University of Denver.

OLIVIER CHOUC

Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer

Olivier Chouc was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer on September 15, 2022. Read more»

OLIVIER CHOUC

Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer

Olivier Chouc was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer on September 15, 2022. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of Université Laval in 1990 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1991. He left private practice in 1998 after seven years at Ogilvy Renault, to join Abitibi-Consolidated (Donohue Inc.) as in-house counsel, where he was responsible for supporting procurement management as well as the company's real estate, litigation and intellectual property portfolio. He was also entrusted with transactional work, including with some aspect of the major transaction leading to the sale of Donohue Inc. to Abitibi-Consolidated. In 2000, he joined the CN Law Department in a counsel capacity to support real estate, supply management, as well as transactional work. He then moved to a senior counsel position with increased responsibilities in the area of mergers and acquisitions and was eventually responsible for the management of the mergers and acquisition group. In 2006, he was named Assistant Vice-President, General Counsel and Managing Partner and in 2011, he was named Vice-President, Legal.

In 2005, Olivier was named Canada's Top 40 under 40 In-House Counsel by the National Post.

Olivier is involved with charitable organizations, namely the Fondation Marie-Vincent, The Ted Nolan Foundation and the Fondation Enfants-Retour. He is currently the Chairman of the CN Employees' and Pensioners' Community Fund after ending a two year mandate as co-president.

JANET DRYSDALE

Senior Vice-President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer

Janet was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer in March 2023. Read more»

JANET DRYSDALE

Senior Vice-President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer

Janet was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer in March 2023. She drives the Company’s stakeholder engagement and communications strategies, which includes public and government affairs, media relations, corporate communications, as well as investor relations.

Janet Drysdale is a seasoned and versatile executive with nearly 30 years of cross-functional leadership having held executive positions in Finance, Sustainability, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations.

Janet has long been an advocate for the rail industry, North America’s critical supply chains, women in transportation, and the transition to a low carbon economy.

Janet is an independent director of Rumo S.A., Brazil’s largest freight railway. She also sits on the board of the Railway Association of Canada and is proud to be the executive sponsor of the Women’s Employee Resource Group at CN.

In 2020, Janet was recognized by WXN as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the executive leadership category, and by Railway Age for her leadership, collaboration, and innovation. In 2021, Janet completed the Competent Boards ESG program and certification (GCB.D).

Janet has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from Queen’s University and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from McGill University.

JOSÉE GIRARD

Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Josée Girard was appointed CN’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer on August 1, 2023. Read more»

JOSÉE GIRARD

Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Josée Girard was appointed CN’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer on August 1, 2023. She leads the Human Resources team in developing and executing the Company’s talent strategy, elaborating CN’s employer brand and fostering a highly collaborative, engaging and inclusive work environment.

Josée has more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources Management. Prior to joining CN, she was Chief People and Purpose Officer at Ivanhoé Cambridge since August 2019. She also previously served as Vice-President, Human Resources, at Rio Tinto Aluminium, and before that was Vice-President, People and Culture, at CBC/Radio-Canada.

PATRICK LORTIE

Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer

Patrick Lortie was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer of CN in February 2023. Read more»

PATRICK LORTIE

Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer

Patrick Lortie was appointed Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer of CN in February 2023. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of CN’s corporate strategy, including an enhanced focus on network strategies and interline relationships.

Patrick is a recognized expert in designing growth strategies and leading business transformations in the transportation industry. He has advised Boards and Executive Teams on a global basis for more than two decades. Before joining CN, he was at Oliver Wyman, where he led the firm’s global Transportation and Services Practice and oversaw the firm’s activities in Canada. He was also a member of the firm’s Global Leadership Council. Prior to that, he worked for regional airlines in France and Argentina, and for Virgin Trains, a leading passenger train operator in the United Kingdom.

Patrick sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Club of Montréal, and is a member of the Business Advisory Committee of the Northwestern University Transportation Center, a leading interdisciplinary education and research institution serving the transportation industry.

Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Strategies for Sustainable Business from MIT Sloan School of Management.




Other Executives

The diverse experience and talent of our team sets us apart.

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