The man who saved Delta wants to fix America’s railroads – Business Insider


Delta CEO Richard Anderson
Former Delta CEO Richard
Anderson will become the new president and CEO of
Amtrak.

Spencer Platt/Getty
Images


Amtrak has appointed former Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson
as its next president and chief executive, it announced Monday.

Anderson, who retired last year after a decade at the helm of
Delta, will start at Amtrak on July 12.

The announcement comes at a tumultuous time for America’s
passenger-rail provider.

In recent months, Amtrak has come under fire for service and
maintenance problems that have caused severe disruptions along
the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor, between Washington, DC,
and Boston.

To facilitate a smooth transition of power, Amtrak says Anderson
and current CEO Wick Moorman will serve as co-CEOs until the end
of the year — at which point Moorman will step down and become an
adviser to the company.

In a statement to Business Insider, Anderson wrote:

“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. 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.”

Over the past 25 years, Anderson has become one of the most
respected CEOs in the airline business. During his time at Delta,
Anderson helped turn the once ailing legacy carrier into one of
the most efficient, effective, and profitable airlines in the
world.

Anderson and his team are credited with navigating Delta and
Northwest Airlines, both fresh out of bankruptcy, through one of
the smoothest airline mergers in recent memory in 2008.

At Amtrak, Anderson will get another chance to resurrect one of
the biggest names in transportation.

The man who saved Delta wants to fix America’s railroads – Business Insider