BNSF Announces Leadership Changes in Transportation, Service Design and Marketing

Matt Garland, Katie Hower and Farah Lawler take on new roles effective September 1, 2024

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) today announced three key leadership changes in its Transportation, Service Design and Marketing teams, effective September 1, 2024. Matt Garland has been promoted to senior vice president, Transportation and Service Design; Katie Hower has been named vice president, Service Design and Network Strategy; and Farah Lawler has been named vice president, Domestic Intermodal Marketing.

Matt Garland, who most recently served as vice president, Transportation, will assume oversight for all BNSF Transportation operations, Service Design and Network Strategies. In this new senior leadership role, Matt will be responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient and reliable movement of freight across BNSF’s 32,500-mile network, as well as developing and implementing service plans that meet the current and future needs of BNSF’s customers and markets.

“Change across our industry and the markets we serve is happening faster than ever before,” said Matt Igoe, executive vice president and chief operations officer. “I believe combining our Transportation and Service Design teams under Matt’s leadership will provide added agility in our planning, strategy and decision making to meet the needs of both current and future customers.”

Matt joined BNSF as a management trainee in 2001. He was soon promoted to trainmaster and would later serve in various Transportation leadership roles with increasing responsibility. In 2015, he was promoted to general manager for the Kansas Division. Matt moved back to Fort Worth in 2018 to serve as general superintendent for BNSF’s Network Operations Center and would later be named vice president, South Region, prior to being promoted to his most recent role.

Katie Hower has been named vice president, Service Design and Network Strategy, responsible for BNSF’s business unit operations in addition to the company’s capital planning, operations research and intermodal innovation. Katie most recently served as vice president, Domestic Intermodal Marketing.

“With her leadership experience across both BNSF operations and marketing, Katie is uniquely positioned to lead this important team and drive continued innovation that will allow us to rise to the opportunities before us,” said Matt Garland, senior vice president, Transportation and Service Design. “We look forward to watching what Katie and her team do in the coming years to adapt and grow with our customers.”

Katie joined BNSF in 2006 as a Marketing management trainee. During her career with BNSF, she has held several marketing and sales roles in Consumer Products, Industrial Products and Agriculture Products. She also spent time in Transportation with responsibility for the Intermodal and Automotive Facilities and Network Operations. In 2020, she was promoted to assistant vice president, Petroleum, Industrial Products. Prior to her most recent role, Katie served as vice president, Industrial Products, responsible for Energy and Coal.

Farah Lawler has been named vice president, Domestic Intermodal Marketing, with responsibility for marketing, sales, pricing and strategic initiatives supporting BNSF’s domestic intermodal business. Farah most recently served as vice president, Industrial Products.

“Farah has been an outstanding leader for BNSF, and we appreciate her taking on this new challenge to serve and support our domestic intermodal customers, which is an extremely dynamic segment and will remain an important part of BNSF’s long-term portfolio,” said Jon Gabriel, group vice president, Consumer Products.

Farah joined BNSF in 2006 as a Marketing management trainee. Throughout her railroading career, she has held several marketing and sales roles in Consumer Products, Industrial Products and Agriculture Products. She was promoted to assistant vice president, Petroleum, Industrial Products, in 2020. Farah would later be named assistant vice president, Industrial Products and would later be promoted to her most recent position to lead the Industrial Products Energy and Coal team.

As part of this transition, BNSF’s Crude Oil and Coal teams will join the new Agriculture and Energy Products Business Unit.

About BNSF

BNSF is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com .