Kansas City Southern promotes Hancock, Naatz

Kansas City Southern (KCS), the parent of the railroad whose north-south network connects the U.S. and Mexico, said it has named Brian D. Hancock to the new post of executive vice president and chief innovation officer, and has tapped Michael J. Naatz to replace Hancock as executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Hancock and Naatz will continue to report to Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, KCS' president and chief executive officer, the Kansas City-based company said yesterday. The appointments will be effective October 1.

Hancock, who has held high-level posts in supply chain management throughout his career, will oversee the development of KCS' innovation and technology strategy. In addition, he will lead the company's operations support, business process improvement, and information technology functions. Hancock has been in his current role for a little more than 3 years.

Naatz is currently KCS' senior vice president and chief information officer, a position he has held since May 2012. Naatz' stints include high-level posts as less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier YRC Worldwide, Inc. and the Holland regional LTL unit when it was part of US Freightways, which YRC acquired in 2005.