Calgary Alberta - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's (CP) Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel have agreed on contract amendments to Mr. Creel's incentive compensation that are intended to see him lead the Company until at least early 2026.
 
"Today's announcement speaks to Keith's leadership and bodes well for the continued long-term success of CP, to the benefit of its employees, customers, communities, and shareholders. Furthermore, this solidifies Keith's role in overseeing and leading the successful integration of CP with Kansas City Southern (KCS) and all of the benefits that transaction will bring," said Chair of the Board, Isabelle Courville.
 
Earlier today, CP and KCS announced that they have entered into a merger agreement under which CP has agreed to acquire KCS in a stock and cash merger transaction, subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions.
 
Following CP's acquisition of KCS and Surface Transportation Board (STB) approval of the merger, Mr. Creel will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the combined company.
 
Since Mr. Creel became CEO in 2017, CP's share price has increased 150 percent.
 
During that time, and now for 15 consecutive years, CP has remained the safest Class 1 railroad in North America as measured by Federal Railroad Administration reportable train accident frequency.
 
"It is my honor to continue to serve alongside the entire CP family. I look forward with great enthusiasm to what is ahead, especially to leading the combined CP/KCS entity. Our commitment to the fundamentals of precision scheduled railroading, to safety and sustainability, to our customers, the communities we serve, and to each other will remain steadfast and unwavering. We will not lose sight of what got us to this point and we are committed to writing the next chapter in the compelling story of these two great railroads," Creel said.
 
Prior to joining CP, Mr. Creel served in various operating roles at Burlington Northern, Illinois Central, and Canadian National, including serving as CN's Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer.
 
Mr. Creel joined CP in February 2013 as President and Chief Operating Officer.
 
On 31 Jan 2017 he assumed the role of CP's President and CEO, becoming the seventeenth leader of the company since 1881.
 
Mr. Creel holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Jacksonville State University.
 
He also completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
 
Mr. Creel has a military background as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, during which time he served in the Persian Gulf War in Saudi Arabia.
 
Recognized for his leadership at CP, he was named by Progressive Railroading as Railroad Innovator for 2014 and Railway Age as Railroader of the Year 2021.
 
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