Amtrak has named Richard Anderson president and chief executive officer, effective July 12. He will serve in a co-CEO capacity with current Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman through December 31, 2017. At that time, Moorman will become an advisor to the company.
Anderson, a 25-year veteran of the aviation industry, most recently served as executive chairman of the Delta Air Lines board of directors. Prior to that, he served as Delta’s chief executive officer from 2007 to 2016.
From 2004 to 2007, Anderson served as executive vice president at United Healthcare. From 2001 to 2004, he served as chief executive officer of Northwest Airlines, which later merged with Delta. Anderson also served in the legal division at Continental Airlines and was a former county prosecutor.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Houston at Clear Lake City and a Juris Doctorate at South Texas College of Law. Aviation Week named him Person of the Year in 2015, and Barron’s magazine recognized him as one of the World’s Best CEOs in 2014. In 2013, he was recognized in Fortune magazine’s Top People in Business list.
“It is an honor to join Amtrak at a time when passenger rail service is growing in importance in America. I look forward to working alongside Amtrak’s dedicated employees to continue the improvements begun by Wick,” said Anderson. “Amtrak is a great company today, and I’m excited about using my experience and working with the board to make it even better. I’m passionate about building strong businesses that create the best travel experience possible for customers.”
Moorman joined Amtrak in September 2016 as a transitional chief executive officer tasked with improving the company’s operations, streamlining the organizational structure, and helping recruit his successor.
“Richard brings to Amtrak his experience running one of the largest global commercial air carriers. The board believes he is the right leader at the right time to drive the quality of customer service that our passengers, partners and stakeholders expect and deserve while continuing our path towards operational and financial excellence,” said Amtrak Chairman of the Board Tony Coscia. “The board also appreciates all that Wick continues to do to improve Amtrak’s safety culture and strengthen our operating performance, including the important renewal work at New York Penn Station.”