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Tom Williams will succeed the retiring Steve Bobb as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at BNSF Railway, effective Sept.1.
Williams currently serves as group vice president in Consumer Products. Jon Gabriel, currently vice president of Service Design, will replace Williams in that role.
Bobb is retiring in August after more than 36 years with the company.
“Steve has been a key leader and contributor to BNSF’s success for more than three decades,” said Katie Farmer, president and CEO, in a statement. “He has built strong relationships with our customers and communities and fostered a culture of innovation and excellence in our Marketing organization.”
Bobb joined BNSF in 1987 and held various positions in information systems, business analysis, planning and marketing, according to a press release. He led several business units, including Minerals, Chemicals, Agricultural Products and Coal.
As EVP and chief marketing officer, positions he held since 2013, he led BNSF's sales, marketing, customer service and economic development teams. He also served as a general manager in Operations from 2005-08.
“We thank him for his passion and dedication and wish him and his family all the best in his retirement,” Farmer said.
Williams joined the former Santa Fe Railway Company in 1993 and has held positions in intermodal, automotive and industrial products marketing. He also served as assistant vice president, Intermodal/Automotive Operations in the Service Design and Performance group at BNSF.
He was promoted to vice president in Industrial Products Sales in 2014, and vice president in Industrial Products in 2016, responsible for marketing and sales for chemicals, plastics and petroleum products. He became group vice president in Consumer Products in 2017, overseeing the intermodal and automotive business units.
Williams will assume responsibility for BNSF’s sales and marketing activities, customer service and economic development.
“Having an experienced leader like Tom take the reins of our Marketing team and strategy will prove invaluable as we continue to evolve, innovate and deliver industry-leading service,” said Farmer. “Tom’s deep background in intermodal, carload and operations will position BNSF for long-term success.”
Gabriel will be responsible for BNSF’s domestic and international intermodal marketing and sales teams, as well as the automotive business. Gabriel began his career at BNSF in Consumer Products in 2006. He has also held several positions in Service Design. He moved to Transportation in 2012 where he served in numerous leadership roles with increasing responsibility, including general manager of the Montana and Northwest Divisions and later as general superintendent of BNSF’s Network Operations Center in Fort Worth. Prior to his most recent role, Gabriel served as vice president, South Region.
“The success of our Consumer Products business is critical to both our present and our future at BNSF — which requires continual innovation in this segment,” said Williams. “We’re fortunate to have an experienced and innovative leader, like Jon, to step into this dynamic role.”