Vanessa Allen Sutherland
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) has named Vanessa Allen Sutherland executive vice president and chief legal officer, effective April 1, 2020.
Allen Sutherland joined NS as vice president law in 2018. She was promoted to senior vice president and chief legal office in April 2019, and has been focused on the NS government relations team’s ongoing work, building and strengthening relationships with legislative, state, and local stakeholders. She has helped lead a review of the NS safety program, managed government relations initiatives, introduced automation at multiple levels within the law team, and collaborated with industry peers on matters related to short line railroads.
“Vanessa is an invaluable contributor to NS, with important responsibilities across a number of areas critical to our company’s success,” remarked James A. Squires, NS chairman, president and CEO. “Most recently, Vanessa has been playing an integral role in helping NS navigate the economic, political, and regulatory environment. We thank her for her hard work and commitment to ensuring that our company continues to deliver superior returns for investors, and outstanding service to customers, while keeping our employees and communities safe. On behalf of the entire NS team, I congratulate Vanessa on her promotion to EVP.”